Lethbridge mayor Blaine Hyggen is reacting to the proposed 2026 Alberta Budget. (Image Credit: Lethbridge News Now)

By David Opinko

Lethbridge mayor pleased to see highway safety measures in Alberta budget

Mar 10, 2026 | 8:56 AM

Blaine Hyggen says it is great to see investments being made into road safety in the Lethbridge area.

The mayor is reacting as more details have emerged from the proposed 2026 Alberta Budget.

Devin Dreeshen, Minister of Transportation and Economic Corridors, says the government will spend 8.3 billion over three years for its Capital Plan.

“Our capital plan is focused on building for growth and maintaining what matters. We are making significant infrastructure transportation investments across Alberta to reduce commute times while also improving safety,” says Dreeshen. “We are planning for the future by making strategic investments, maintaining and extending the life of our 64,000-kilometre road and 4,900-bridge network.”

Hyggen says in a statement that a major local initiative under the 2026 Provincial Construction Program is planning and engineering work for widening and safety upgrades to the Highway 3 bridge across the Oldman River.

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“I am very pleased to hear this design work is moving forward. We are hopeful that funding for construction will be forthcoming in a future budget, as this bridge expansion will certainly be a benefit to our regional transportation corridor,” says Hyggen.

The mayor also commended spending on regional plans for public safety, including:

• Improvements coming to the Coalhurst Hwy. 3 intersection (planning and engineering)
• Traffic signal improvements to the Hwy. 3 and Hwy. 845 intersection in Coaldale (design)
• Passing lane improvements on Hwy. 5 between Magrath and Lethbridge (design)
• Repaving 27 km between Monarch and Hwy. 25 (design)
• Slide repairs near Frank Slide (design)
• Slide repairs at Brocket slides (design)
• Hwy. 3 realignment at southeast end of Fort Macleod (design)
• Hwy. 3 twinning from Taber to Burdett (construction), and from Bow Island to Medicine Hat (design)
• 27 km of repaving between Warner and six km south of Hwy. 52 (design)
• 19 km of repaving between Town of Diamond Valley and 1 km east of Hwy. 783 (design)

Hyggen said in his initial statement about the budget that it will take some time to review the document in its full scope.

The City of Lethbridge’s ChiefFinancial Officer & Treasurer will provide a verbal update to council on Tuesday, Mar. 11.

“We look forward to working with the Provincial Government in the coming weeks and months to learn more about what this proposed budget means specifically for Lethbridge,” says Hyggen. “As always, Lethbridge City Council will continue to advocate for the supports we need in our city to best serve our residents.”

READ MORE: Big spending, big deficit and fee hikes: Highlights from the Alberta budget

READ MORE: Lethbridge mayor encouraged by local investments in Alberta budget