People travelling between Fort Macleod and Pincher Creek will wait years to have Highway 3 twinned.
Twinning of the 38 kilometres on that section of Highway 3 is in the seventh of an eight-phase program introduced Friday by Premier Danielle Smith.
Smith announced Friday during a news conference the government will move forward with plans to twin Highway 3 between Saskatchewan and B.C.
“This comes at an unprecedented time for our province,” Smith said. “We’re facing a significant economic and political headwind, driven by global economic uncertainties and an unco-operative federal partner in Ottawa.”
“There’s no telling how long these challenges are going to last but I can tell you the surest way for us to insulate Alberta from any shock is to keep on investing in infrastructure and to find new ways to support growth and development.”
Transportation Minister Devin Dreeshen told reporters the twinning of the remaining 215 kilometres of Highway 3 will take place in eight phases over a period of about 10 years.
Smith said the government is proceeding with a request for proposals for the first of eight sections, that is, 46 kilometres of Highway 3 between Taber and Burdett, with construction to start next year.
The remaining seven sections are as follows.
| Phase 2 — | Twinning of 10 kilometres of Highway 3X and the Coleman bypass. Functional planning studies are done and detailed engineering design will begin in spring 2023. |
| Phase 3 — | Twinning of 15 kilometres east of Seven Persons to Medicine Hat. Functional planning studies have been completed and detailed engineering design will begin in spring 2023. |
| Phase 4 — | Twinning of 47 kilometres from Blairmore to east of Highway 6 at Pincher Creek. Functional planning studies have been completed and detailed engineering design will begin in 2023. |
| Phase 5 — | Twinning of 28 kilometres from east of Bow Island to east of Seven Persons. Functional planning studies have been completed and detailed engineering design will begin in summer 2023. |
| Phase 6 — | Twinning of 23 kilometres east of Burdett to east of Bow Island. A functional planning study has been completed and the province will continue to consult with the Town of Bow Island and other stakeholders in order to finalize the alignment. |
| Phase 7 — | Twinning of 38 kilometres from Pincher Creek to west of Fort Macleod. A functional planning study through Piikani Nation is under way and will continue for some time. |
| Phase 8 — | Twinning of eight kilometres from the Alberta-B.C. border to Highway 3X. Continued engagement with B.C. is necessary. |
“There is a lot of work to be done,” Dreeshen said. “That work starts now.”
Premier Danielle Smith announced a long-term plan for twinning Highwy 3.
