Highway 3 East, between Taber and Burdett
Overview
Following the completion of a functional planning study in 2019, a 46 km 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. began minor bridge work in winter 2023 before active construction began in spring 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 take up to 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
Aerial project photos
Timelines
Impacts
Anticipated traffic impacts
Fall 2024 to Spring 2025
Detour for bridge culvert installation:
- between Highway 36 and Range Road 163
- at Range Road 143
Environmental impact
An environmental evaluation was 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/cultural resources, First Nations consultation).
- Necessary environmental permits and approvals were in place before construction began.
Construction along Highway 3 East between Taber and Burdett
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