Alberta government to twin portion of Highway 3 as part of economic recovery plan

The Alberta government says it will twin a 46-kilometre stretch of highway in southern Alberta.

The government says the previously unfunded improvements to Highway 3 between Taber and Burdett will support 755 jobs and drive economic recovery and diversification in the area.

The highway is a vital east-west link and a major connector between Saskatchewan and British Columbia south of the Trans-Canada Highway.

Premier Jason Kenney says the project is part of the government's economic recovery program that was announced on Monday. 

The government pegs the infrastructure spending portion of its plan at $10 billion, but the vast majority of that money — $6.9 billion — was already allocated in the spring budget, while $1.5 billion of the remainder was previously announced money to fund the Trans Mountain Pipeline expansion. 

It's unclear at this time how much of the remaining $1.5 billion announced as part of the government's plan is new. 

Taber-Warner legislature member Grant Hunter, with the UCP, says the highway twinning will not only increase safety in the movement of goods, services and people, but it will also help establish the area as an agri-food hub.

Construction will begin in 2021 and is expected to take about three years to complete.