Premier Danielle Smith announced funding for highway projects in southern Alberta on March 7, 2024. (Photo: Pattison Media)

By Jesse Gill / David Opinko

‘Major construction’ to start in 2024 on Taber-Burdett Hwy 3 twinning

Mar 8, 2024 | 9:24 AM

TABER, AB – The first major section of the twinning of Highway 3 is set to start this year.

Premier Danielle Smith announced on Thursday, March 7, 2024, that “major construction is expected to start this year” for the 46 kilometre section between Taber and Burdett.

The project was first announced by former Premier Jason Kenney in 2020 before Smith reaffirmed support for it in 2022, although construction was initially set to begin last year.

Smith said the 2024 provincial budget includes funding for the Taber-Burdett section over the next three years.

She also announced funds for a new highway project in southern Alberta. It will result in the widening of a 55 kilometre stretch of Highway 41 between Highway 1 and an area south of Elkwater, just east of Medicine Hat.

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As well, the premier reiterated plans to eventually twin all of Highway 3 in Alberta.

“We are also investing in the engineering work to prepare for twinning the remaining 169km of Highway three between Medicine Hat and the B.C. Boundary,” said Smith.

Hwy. 3 has eight different sections of development.

Minister of Transportation and Economic Corridors Devin Dreeshen said the other seven sections are still in varying stages of development.

Dreeshen stated the areas near the B.C. border and Medicine Hat are most likely to be the last two stages of highway three to be twinned.

Cypress-Medicine Hat MLA Justin Wright said he was happy to see progress happening with Hwy. 41.

“It’s very near and dear to my heart, we had a near miss with some family members on that highway,” Wright said.

“It’s something that’s very much been a push for me to continue to really focus on the transportation, safety side of things to make sure that we bring it up to standards where it should be.”

When asked about Wild Horse border crossing, Smith said she has been working with the Montana governor Greg Gianforte and they have sent a joint letter to their federal counterparts asking for an opportunity to co-locate the border crossing office to improve services.

Smith adds that since Hwy. 41 will be upgraded it allows more opportunity for the border to be open.

Smith is meeting with the federal minister of innovations, science and industry Francois-Phillipe Champagne on Saturday and will ask him his advice on the best way to move forward.

READ MORE: Government announces Highway 3 twinning between Taber and Burdett

READ MORE: Highway 3 twinning from Taber to Burdett to start 2023

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