Highway 3 East, between Taber and Burdett
Overview
Following the completion of a functional planning study in 2019, a 46-kilometre section of Highway 3 between the Town of Taber and west of the Hamlet of Burdett will be twinned. This work involves upgrading the existing 2-lane highway to a divided 4-lane highway to enhance safety and efficiency in the area. Ledcor Highways Ltd. was awarded the construction contract, which will see work get underway in 2024.
This work is part of the larger Highway 3 Twinning Project, which will be completed in phases. The other phases of the project are in various stages, including consultation, planning and design, land acquisition, environmental assessment, and engineering.
Highway 3 is part of Canada’s National Highway System, moving people, goods, and services inter-provincially and internationally. The corridor provides a primary connection between southern Alberta to provinces east and west, and it is one of only 3 continuous east-west routes through Alberta. This section of Highway 3 sees an average of 3,000 to 5,000 vehicles per day.
Project details
Major construction on this project will begin in 2024 and will take about 3 years to complete, including:
- building the new eastbound lanes of Highway 3 adjacent to the existing highway from Taber to Burdett
- upgrades to range roads and intersections
- construction of the Grassy Lake by-pass
- installation of 11 bridge culverts in St. Mary River Irrigation District canals, crossing Highway 3
Timelines
- Winter 2024 – bridge culverts
- Summer 2024 – subbase, gravel, paving
- Winter 2025 – bridge culverts
- Summer 2025 – subbase, gravel, paving
- Summer 2026 – paving, signs, guardrail, intersection improvements, passing lane removals
Impacts
Anticipated traffic impacts
Fall 2024 – Spring 2025
Detour for bridge culvert installation:
- between Range Road 164 and Range Road 163
- at Range Road 143
Environmental impact
An environmental evaluation has been completed for the project. It reviewed existing conditions, potential impacts and mitigation measures for all key valued ecosystem components (for example, soil, vegetation, wildlife, fisheries, noise, historical and cultural resources, and First Nations consultation).
All required environmental permits and approvals will be in place before construction starts.
Benefits
This twinning project will:
- expand the capacity of the highway, enhance safety and accommodate future growth
- support economic development in Alberta by improving access to this area
- support the efficient movement of goods and people – in particular, larger truck traffic – through the Highway 3 corridor from Taber to Burdett
Contact
Connect with the Southern Region Office:
Hours: 8:15 am to 4:30 pm (open Monday to Friday, closed statutory holidays)
Phone: 403-381-5426
Toll free: 310-0000 before the number (in Alberta)
Email: [email protected]
Address:
Southern Region Office
3rd Floor, Administration Building
909 3 Avenue North
Lethbridge, Alberta T1H 0H5