Premier Danielle Smith smiles during the announcement of the Highway 41 widening in the Elkwater area. (Kevin Kyle/CHAT News)

By Jesse Gill

Premier Danielle Smith reveals Hwy 41 widening project, fresh cash for Hwy 3 twinning

Mar 7, 2024 | 5:45 PM

Premier Danielle Smith revealed a new widening project for Highway 41 South and fresh cash through the 2024 budget for the long-awaited twinning of Highway 3 on Thursday from her riding of Brooks-Medicine Hat.

The twinning of Highway 3 and the widening of Highway 41 on a 55-kilometre stretch of road from Hwy. 1 to south of Elkwater got the spotlight in a press conference at Volker Stevin Highways in Medicine Hat.

Smith said she was happy to share the good news.

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“Budget 2024 includes funding over the next three years to twin 46 kilometres of Hwy. 3 between Taber and Burdett,” Smith said.

“Major construction is expected to start this year,” she added.

“We are also investing in the engineering work to prepare for twinning the remaining 169 kilometre of Highway 3 between Medicine Hat and the B.C. boundary.”

Smith added that when this is done it will be a big boost for everyone especially agri-business.

Cypress County Reeve Dan Hamilton said he was pleased with the highway upgrade plans.

“This development marks a big step forward in improving transportation infrastructure within our region and beyond,” Hamilton said in a news release.

He called Hwy. 41 “a vital route connecting communities, improving commerce, and supporting economic growth.”

“The inclusion of these upgrades shows the government’s commitment to prioritizing infrastructure investments that enhance safety and connectivity across Alberta.”

Hwy. 3 has eight different sections of development.

Minister of Transportation and Economic Corridors Devin Dreeshen said the other seven sections are still in varying stages of development.

Dreeshen stated the areas near the British Columbia border and Medicine Hat are most likely to be the last two stages of highway three to be twinned.

When Smith announced the engineering work on grade widening for Hwy. 41 in the Elkwater area the crowd was happy to hear it.

“Here in south eastern Alberta budget 2024 also includes funding for engineering work for grade widening along 55 kilometres of Hwy. 41 between, whoop whoop, between Hwy. 1 and 20 kilometres south of Elkwater,” Smith said.

Cypress-Medicine Hat MLA Justin Wright said he was happy to see progress happening with Hwy. 41.

“It’s very near and dear to my heart, we had a near miss with some family members on that highway,” Wright said.

“It’s something that’s very much been a push for me to continue to really focus on the transportation, safety side of things to make sure that we bring it up to standards where it should be.”

When asked about Wild Horse border crossing, Smith said she has been working with the Montana governor Greg Gianforte and they have sent a joint letter to their federal counterparts asking for an opportunity to co-locate the border crossing office to improve services.

Smith adds that since Hwy. 41 will be upgraded it allows more opportunity for the border to be open.

Smith is meeting with the federal minister of innovations, science and industry Francois-Phillipe Champagne on Saturday and will ask him his advice on the best way to move forward.