Highway 3 – Twinning east of Highway 885 (Whitla) to Medicine Hat

Highway 3, Whitla to Medicine Hat

Overview

Highway 3 is an important inter-provincial highway for traffic flow from Saskatchewan to British Columbia. Traffic volumes have increased and are exceeding the current safe 2-lane limits.

Alberta Transportation and Economic Corridors (TEC) is completing the design to twin approximately 36 km of Highway 3, between 3 km east of Highway 885 and east of Highway 523 (Whitla (west of Seven Persons) to Medicine Hat). The project will refine design standards, access locations, and the staging requirements for 4 lanes.

This work, which will improve safety and enhance traffic flow and efficiency, will expand the highway from 2 undivided lanes in each direction to 2 (4 total) divided lanes in each direction.

Fall 2025 field work

The project team is preparing for upcoming field work to support the preliminary design for this twinning project, which will improve safety and efficiency along the corridor. This work will be completed within the existing Highway 3 right-of-way in various locations along the highway corridor.

Fall 2025 activities 

• Mid-September: Geotechnical drilling (approximately 5 to 7 days)
• September 29 to October 17: Utility hydrovac work

This work will be completed between 8 am and 6 pm daily, including weekends. Traffic impacts are anticipated to be minimal. Lane closures are not expected, however some brief durations of work off the highway shoulder may be required to safely facilitate access to complete the work.

Project parameters

See a map of the project parameters

To inform the design, the project will review existing conditions, current issues, and future growth considerations of this section of Highway 3, between east of Highway 885 (Whitla) and east of Highway 523 (Medicine Hat). The design will refine:

• design standards
• access locations
• the staging needed to upgrade the existing 2-lane, undivided section to a 4-lane classification

The project will consider:

• physical constraints
• property and access impacts
• wildlife, environmental and cultural sensitivities
• feedback from Indigenous communities, adjacent property owners, business owners, area residents, City of Medicine Hat, Cypress County, County of Forty Mile, and the public

July 2025 project update

Preliminary design for this twinning project is underway. Feedback provided during the Fall 2024 public, landowner and Indigenous engagement sessions and technical considerations have been incorporated into the preliminary design.

Final preliminary design will be shared at future public engagement opportunities before construction begins. Dates, times and locations of future public engagement sessions will be shared here.

Construction timing remains contingent on completion of engineering and detailed design, land acquisition, utility relocations, and permitting activities.

Benefits

When completed, the twinning will:

• improve driver safety and provide effective and efficient highway infrastructure
• support current and future traffic needs as the area continues to grow and develop
• support economic development by way of robust transportation infrastructure

Public engagement

This project includes a planning component for the Seven Persons area and a potential future runway extension to the Medicine Hat Regional Airport. The project will consider input from adjacent landowners and businesses, stakeholders including community groups, the City of Medicine Hat, County of Forty Mile, and Cypress County.

Public engagement includes 4 public information sessions in Medicine Hat and Seven Persons in 2024 and 2025.

Fall 2024 engagement 

Albertans were invited to learn more about the project and share their feedback at public information sessions held on September 10 and 11 in Seven Persons and Medicine Hat and, participate in online public engagement that was available from September 3 to 20.

• View the display boards
• View the Engagement Summary Report

Resources

• Highway 3:16 Future Twinning Study West of Seven Persons to Range Road 63

Contact

Alex Frotten
Construction Engineer
Phone: 403-297-7677
Toll free: dial 310-0000 before the number (in Alberta)
Email: [email protected]