Potential third bridge sparks conversation ahead of Lethbridge municipal election
Building a third river crossing in Lethbridge has been a topic of conversation for years.
In 2009 city council endorsed Chinook Trail as the location for a third bridge, connecting Scenic Drive South, not far from Lethbridge College to University Drive in West Lethbridge.
The conversation is once again being renewed as Lethbridge voters will be asked how they feel about the potential project as a ballot question for Monday's municipal election.
"It's an issue that keeps coming up in the community and I thought by putting it on the ballot, it would provide some level of resolution and hopefully residents would research the issue a little bit and get some facts behind it," said mayor Chris Spearman.
Proposed third bridge, Lethbridge (Courtesy City of Lethbridge)
On one hand, it would it create a quicker route for the city's fastest growing neighbourhoods on the west side while easing traffic on both Whoop-Up Drive and Hwy. 3.
However, if a new bridge is completed by 2030, it would cost an estimated $200M.
Without funding from the provincial government, that price tag could carry an increase in municipal taxes of up to 11 per cent.
"It would be one of the most expensive municipal capital projects in our history. Until now, the most expensive capital project in the city of Lethbridge would be the ATB Centre at $155 million," said Spearman.
He added that if the majority of residents are in favour of the project that could be used by city council as a bargaining chip to convince the province to shell out some funds.
Lethbridge City Hall
As it stands, because the proposed bridge is in the city of Lethbridge, the provincial government to this point has viewed it as a local improvement, so any bridge built within city boundaries would have to be funded by local taxpayers.
The ballot questions for this election are non-binding, but they will help assist the upcoming city council.
"The new council will have to consider that and what they want to do with that information, so there is a lot of information on the web about those two questions if people want to go take a look," said returning officer Bonnie Hilford.
The other question on the ballot is about whether or not the city should transition to a ward system by 2025.
More information on what a third bridge could mean for the Lethbridge can be found on the city's website.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Doctors say capital gains tax changes will jeopardize their retirement. Is that true?
The Canadian Medical Association asserts the Liberals' proposed changes to capital gains taxation will put doctors' retirement savings in jeopardy, but some financial experts insist incorporated professionals are not as doomed as they say they are.
Something in the water? Canadian family latest to spot elusive 'Loch Ness Monster'
For centuries, people have wondered what, if anything, might be lurking beneath the surface of Loch Ness in Scotland. When Canadian couple Parry Malm and Shannon Wiseman visited the Scottish highlands earlier this month with their two children, they didn’t expect to become part of the mystery.
Fair in Ontario, flurries in Labrador: Weather systems make for an erratic spring
It's no secret that spring can be a tumultuous time for Canadian weather, and as an unseasonably mild El Nino winter gives way to summer, there's bound to be a few swings in temperature that seem out of the ordinary. From Ontario to the Atlantic, though, this week is about to feel a little erratic.
What do weight loss drugs mean for a diet industry built on eating less and exercising more?
Recent injected drugs like Wegovy and its predecessor, the diabetes medication Ozempic, are reshaping the health and fitness industries.
He replaced Mickey Mantle. Now baseball's oldest living major leaguer is turning 100
The oldest living former major leaguer, Art Schallock turns 100 on Thursday and is being celebrated in the Bay Area and beyond as the milestone approaches.
What a urologist wants you to know about male infertility
When opposite sex couples are trying and failing to get pregnant, the attention often focuses on the woman. That’s not always the case.
'It was instant karma': Viral video captures failed theft attempt in Nanaimo, B.C.
Mounties in Nanaimo, B.C., say two late-night revellers are lucky their allegedly drunken antics weren't reported to police after security cameras captured the men trying to steal a heavy sign from a downtown business.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
It could take years to catch up on child vaccinations in Ontario post-pandemic
Ontario is still playing catch up on routine vaccinations that many children missed during the pandemic and public health officials are warning that it could take years to solve the problem.