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

The engineering and design work underway is an important step to twin a section of Highway 3 between Whitla and Medicine Hat.

highway 3, 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.

Project parameters

Highway 3 Whitla to Medicine Hat project

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

Timelines

Functional planning studies for this section of Highway 3 were completed in 2013. AECOM and ISL Engineering and Land Services (ISL) will complete the design work. Design began in 2024 and is anticipated to be complete in 2026. Next steps, including timing and construction, will be determined after engineering and design are complete.

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.

Resources

Contact

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