Alberta Government building, renewing infrastructure in Lethbridge

A handful of infrastructure projects in the City of Lethbridge were announced on Thursday. Healthcare centres, schools, and wastewater treatment plants are some of the Government of Alberta’s top priorities over the next few years.

The Alberta Government says its investing $20.7 billion to build and renew infrastructure buildings and the maintenance and renewal of government owned facilities across the province. The current capital projects in Lethbridge will see two new buildings created. 

Alberta Minister of Infrastructure, Prasad Panda, says the Alberta Government will be building a new elementary school in West Lethbridge in the coming years, as well as adding 50 treatment beds to the Fresh Start Recovery Centre east of Lethbridge. 

As for the current capital maintenance and renewal projects in the city, those include security upgrades at the Lethbridge Correctional Centre, roof replacement at the Sustainable Resources and Development Warehouse, and the replacement of the building management control system at the courthouse. With a total cost of just shy of $5 million dollars. 

In addition to the current capital projects, the Alberta Government also announced it has allocated $3.6 billion by the federal government to invest in the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP) across the province. There are currently 10 ICIP projects approved for the city, including:

• Lethbridge Broadband Fiber Project – $6.9 million
• City Hall Cooling Tower Replacement – $460,000
• Fritz Sick Stream Boiler Replacement -$540,000
• Labour Club Ice Plant Replacement -$1.2 million
• Legacy Park Discovery Playground – $1.2 million
• Lethbridge Retrofits at Multiple City Facilities – $1.85 million
• Nicholas Sheran Ice Centre Ice Pad Replacement – $1.6 million
• Public Library North Wing Air Handling and Ductwork – $800,000
• Roof Replacement at Multiple City Facilities Buildings – $1.9 million
• U of L Indigneous Gathering Space $460,000

The total cost for ICIP projects in Lethbridge is just under $17 million, and Lethbridge-East MLA, Nathan Nuedorf, says the projects will create a large amount of jobs within the   region.  

As well, $6.9 million for broadband within the City of Lethbridge, which is the last of the top 5 key objectives the City of Lethbridge has put forward for funding has been approved. The priorities list includes the new Lethbridge and District Agri-food Hub and Trade Centre, the twinning of Highway 3, renovations to the airport and maintenance at the U of L.

All projects are expected to create 127 jobs.