LETHBRIDGE, AB – Talk about a future third river crossing was discussed at length by Lethbridge City Council Tuesday
Councillor Rajko Dodic put forward a resolution asking that city administration consider looking at sites farther south of the current proposed location for the so-called Chinook Trail.
“There have been significant changes to the city footprint since the studies were done. The 2009 resolution that identified the current site as the only site and (administration) to come back before September 2022 and report to Council as to whether a more southerly route makes more sense,” Dodic told Council on Tuesday.
Dodic noted that having a more southerly route could increase the likelihood of financial support from senior levels of government, as opposed to sticking Lethbridge taxpayers with a very expensive bill. It had been previously reported that a third river crossing built within Lethbridge city limits were have to be funded entirely by city taxpayers and that bill could be as high as $300 million.
A non-binding question on the municipal ballot back in October had 60% of residents who voted saying yes to keep a third bridge as a major project priority for City Council.
This resolution essentially asks city administration to identify an anticipated cost to construct another river crossing at the same site or sites, with a goal of possibly finding potential funding sources.
The current proposed location is near Riverstone on the west side, joining up across the Oldman River at Scenic Drive.