LETHBRIDGE, AB – It looks like if a third bridge was built in Lethbridge, the hit to city taxpayers would be substantial.
A few weeks back, City Councillor Rajko Dodic had requested an updated cost estimate to construct another river crossing.
Information presented to Council on Tuesday shows municipal taxes would have to increase between 14%-22% to make the project happen.
That’s based on the cost of construction being anywhere between $200 million and $300 million.
It was noted this week that if Council was to give a third bridge the green light at some point, the city would look at maximizing any external grants available at the time.
Other options for funding could include a public private partnership (P3) or toll rates.
A future third bridge remains a City Council priority after the majority of Lethbridge residents, 60%, voted during a non-binding referendum this past October that they want to Councillors to keep this proposed project on the radar.
The numbers below reflect the proposed increase on city tax bills if Lethbridge taxpayers were stuck footting the entire bill:
