Alberta budget proposes billions to build infrastructure

Key Takeaways:

• Budget 2025 proposes over $8.5 billion for Alberta’s transportation and economic corridors, with major funding directed toward highway and bridge projects, LRT expansions, and water management infrastructure to support economic growth and community development.
• The budget allocates targeted investments across regions, such as $1.25 billion for the North (e.g., Highway 63 twinning), $1.4 billion for the Central region (e.g., Highway 11 twinning), and $363 million for the South (e.g., Highway 3 twinning), ensuring infrastructure development is balanced across the province.
• These projects aim to improve traffic flow, enhance trade corridors, and create thousands of jobs, boosting Alberta’s economy by utilizing local materials and labor while preparing for future growth and infrastructure needs.

The Whole Strory:

Alberta is poised to spend billions on growth-supporting infrastructure in its upcoming budget.

If passed, Alberta’s Budget 2025 would invest more than $8.5 billion for the Ministry of Transportation and Economic Corridors’ three-year Capital Plan, a $333.7-million increase compared with Budget 2024. This total includes more than $4 billion over three years for transportation infrastructure projects to benefit rural communities across the province, as well as $2.1 billion over three years for projects in the Calgary region, and $2 billion for projects in the Edmonton region.

“We are investing in the transportation and water infrastructure our communities need to address rapid growth, promote economic development and support a high quality of life,” Devin Dreeshen, Minister of Transportation and Economic Corridors. “These investments help ensure our province remains the best place in Canada to live, work and raise a family.”

The total capital investment in this year’s budget includes $2.6 billion for planning, design and construction of major highway and bridge projects. This work will create thousands of jobs across Alberta, improve traffic flow, and support the development of major trade corridors through projects such as twinning Highway 3 and Highway 11, and major improvements to Deerfoot Trail and Highway 881. Capital investment funding also includes more than $186 million over three years for more than 50 engineering projects to address future infrastructure needs as the province continues to grow.

“Building and fixing roads and bridges improves the productivity of Alberta’s economy. Budget 2025 continues investing in critical infrastructure using local materials and labour,” Ron Glen, CEO, Roadbuilders and Heavy Construction Association. “The ARHCA applauds Alberta’s leadership and commitment to all modes of trade-enabling transportation.”

In addition to improving and maintaining the provincial highway network, Alberta’s government has allocated $3.9 billion for capital grants to municipalities over the next three years. This includes funding for LRT projects in Edmonton and Calgary, as well as $5 million in new funding to support planning work for a new transit solution connecting the Calgary airport terminal with the future Blue Line LRT extension station.

The budget would also provide $126.8 million over three years to municipalities through the Strategic Transportation Infrastructure Program. This program helps smaller municipalities improve critical local transportation infrastructure.

Additionally, ongoing capital grants totalling $519.7 million over three years in water and wastewater infrastructure.

Finally, Budget 2025 would provide $240.1 million to build and repair water management infrastructure, including dams, spillways, canals and control structures. This investment provides irrigation for the agriculture sector and flood mitigation for Alberta communities.

Regional Highlights

North region

• Budget 2025, if passed, invests $1.25 billion over three years in road and bridge construction projects to benefit the North region, including:
  • $101 million for Highway 63 twinning, north of Fort McMurray
  • $141 million for Highway 881 safety and road improvements
  • $87 million for construction of the La Crete bridge
  • $69 million for Highway 40 grade widening between Hinton and Grande Cache
  • $7 million for the La Loche Connector road – extending Highway 956 from La Loche, Saskatchewan to Fort McMurray
  • $4 million for twinning Highway 40 south of Grande Prairie
  • $127.5 million for Highway 60 Capital Improvements

Central region

• Budget 2025, if passed, invests $1.4 billion over three years in road and bridge construction projects to benefit the Central region, including:
  • $208 million for Highway 11 twinning between Sylvan Lake and Rocky Mountain House
  • $98 million for the Vinca Bridge replacement on Highway 38 (near Redwater) as part of work to enhance the high-load corridor

South region

• Budget 2025, if passed, invests $363 million over three years in road and bridge construction projects to benefit the South region, including:
  • $106 million for Highway 3 twinning (between Taber and east of Burdett)
  • $92 million for the Highway 2 Balzac Interchange Replacement
  • $24 million for the Highway 1A upgrade (Stoney First Nation)
  • $9 million for the QEII Highway and 40^th Avenue interchange ramp (near Airdrie)

Calgary

• Budget 2025, if passed, invests $2.1 billion over three years in road and bridge construction projects, and municipal grants to benefit the Calgary region, including:
  • $173.1 million for the Calgary Rivers District and Event Centre
  • $484.8 million for Deerfoot Trail upgrades
  • $62.4 million for the Springbank Off-stream Reservoir (SR1) project
  • $11.9 million for the Bow River Reservoir (Ghost Reservoir Infrastructure Project)
  • $100 million for the Calgary Ring Road (West Stoney Trail)
  • $8 million for the completion of the Highway 201 Bow River Bridge on the southeast Stoney Trail
  • $26.5 million for the completion of the Stoney Trail and Airport Trail interchange

Edmonton

• Budget 2025, if passed, invests $2 billion over three years in road and bridge construction projects to benefit the Edmonton region, including:
  • $31.9 million for the Ray Gibbon Drive expansion
  • $31 million for the Terwillegar Drive widening from Rabbit Hill Road to Windermere Boulevard
  • $52.7 million for the Terwillegar Drive Expansion improvements to the interchange at SW Anthony Henday Drive
  • $20.3 million for Highway 16A and Range Road 20 Safety Improvements
  • $17.2 million for Highway 19 twinning
  • $40.2 million for the Highway 2 and 65 Avenue Interchange in Leduc