Lethbridge renewing it’s membership in the Highway 3 Twinning Development Association.

The organization consists of Mayors, County Reeves, and economic development groups from up and down the Highway 3 corridor. They’ve been pushing for several years to see the highway double-laned from the Crowsnest Pass through to Medicine Hat.

Peter Casurella with the South Grow Regional Initiative says he hopes the new UCP government sees the benefits to twinning Highway 3. “We’re in a tight fiscal situation in the province right now, we completely understand that. Eventually, the provincial government will be investing into infrastructure projects. Maybe not this year or next, but eventually they will. It’s our goal (SouthGrow) along with the Association, to make sure when they (province) do, Highway 3 is at the top of the list.”

Casurella tells MyLethbridgeNow.com the economic case for twinning Highway 3 has never been stronger than it is now. He says we need these types of trade corridors. Casurella notes without Highway 3 twinned, southern Alberta is going to get passed over by large processing facilities in the future looking for ideal locations to move to.

Twinning Highway 3 is not only needed for economic reasons, but also to increase safety on the heavily-used southern Alberta highway.

On Monday (July 8 ), City Council unanimously approved $7,500 to continue its ongoing membership in the Highway 3 Twinning Development Association.