Nearly three years after planning for the project began, the first step to the complete twinning of Highway 3 could begin early next year.
This, after the provincial government laid out a timeline suggesting that construction on 46 kilometres of Highway 3, stretching from Taber to Burdett, could begin as early as Spring 2023.
The province says they are moving forward with a request for proposals for the Taber-Burdett corridor, the first of eight total segments of work needed to complete the twinning of the highway.
Devin Dreeshen, Minister of Infrastructure and Economic Corridors, says the work, when completed, should make travel not only faster, but safer for drivers across southern Alberta, in addition to the economic impact for the region.
“Expanding Highway 3 will make it a lot easier for farmers and businesses here to get their products to buyers – whether they live in Alberta or anywhere in the world,” he adds.
While the construction on the first phase of twinning could be just around the corner, the remaining timeline looks less concrete. The government says the the stages of project readiness along the line ranges from the functionality planning and engineering design phase, to continued consultation, with no firm timeline in place.
Bill Chapman, president, Highway 3 Twinning Development Association says the as a primary route for the transport of goods and services across the region, the twinning of Highway 3 is vital for not only agri-business, but recreation and tourism.
“The most efficient and safest route is a twinned route.”
You can read the full proposed timeline on the twinning of Highway 3 here.