Letter: A crash course in Highway 3 planning

David McIntyre - Highway engineers appear to have become so preoccupied with their vision to create a high-speed, twinned superhighway that spans Alberta they’ve embraced a solution that serves the landscape to the east, applied it to the entire equation and, in the process, ignored a mountain.

Coaldale RCMP investigate fatal collision

RCMP Alberta - On June 25, 2018 at approximately 5:00 p.m. Coaldale RCMP along with Coalhurst Fire Department and Lethbridge EMS responded to a motor vehicle collision involving two cars on Highway 3 approximately 2 km west of the Highway 509 intersection. Initial investigation indicates that a white Toyota Corolla was being driven by a 61-year-old man eastbound on the westbound lanes of Highway 3. At one point the white Corolla struck into a westbound white Chevrolet Impala. There were two occupants of the white Impala.

Highway 3 crashes into the Frank Slide

David McIntyre - The Frank Slide, known around the world, is North America’s most deadly rockslide. It's a stunning, jaw-dropping memorial for approximately 100 people. 

During the 100th anniversary (2003) of the Frank Slide, Frank Slide Interpretive Centre visitors looked down on Highway 3 and witnessed the unthinkable. Industrial equipment was actively bulldozing the designated historic resource they had come to see.

Coaldale RCMP respond to a train vs semi collision

RCMP Alberta - On April 26, 2018 at approximately 9:40 am, Coaldale RCMP along with Lethbridge Fire/EMS responded to the intersection of Highway 3 and Range Road 211 for a serious motor vehicle collision involving a semi truck and a CP Rail train.

Hwy 3 bridge lane closures in Lethbridge begin Tuesday

Government of Alberta - The bridge on Highway 3 over the Oldman River in Lethbridge will be reduced to one lane in each direction for rehabilitation work, starting Tuesday, April 24. Motorists can expect delays.  Drivers will be restricted to the westbound lanes, one in each direction, until July. The speed limit will be reduced to 50 kilometres per hour, and there will be a lane- width restriction of 3.7 metres for large truck traffic. There will be no pedestrian access to the bridge during the project.  There may also be periodic traffic delays on Coal Banks Trail and parking restrictions in the area once work is underway.  Check 511 for regular updates.

Pincher Creek rallies to deal with extreme winter weather event

Snow drifts on Pincher Creek's north hill west of the Ranchland Mall - Alyssa Cameron photo

T. Lucas/C.Davis - On Friday, February 23 blowing snow, whiteouts, and icy conditions made driving hazardous in and around southwestern Alberta. At 5:35 pm 511 Alberta announced Highway 3 was closed from Pincher Station to Fort MacLeod, with Highway 6 open southbound only into Pincher Creek from Highway 3. Highway 3 was also closed 10 miles west of Coleman due to a motor vehicle collision. Travellers were diverted into the town of Pincher Creek, where hotels and motels were quickly filled to capacity. For hours prior to the closures travel on area highways was extremely dangerous due to lengthy stretches of whiteouts and snow drifts. Rapidly drifting snow in the town also stranded many motorists, and area roads were littered with stuck vehicles.

Fatal MVC on Highway 3 at Broxburn intersection

RCMP Alberta - On Friday February 23, 2018 at approximately 4:00 p.m. the Coaldale RCMP along with the Coaldale Fire Department/EMS responded to a serious motor vehicle collision on Highway 3 at the Broxburn intersection.

Pincher Creek RCMP: Travel not recommended on Highway 3

Alberta Transportation highway camera at Cowley, west of Pincher Creek

Update:  This travel advisory was rescinded at 8:45 am February 15.

Travel on Highway 3 west of Coleman to BC not recommended

Highway 3: 1.9 km east of Alberta BC. border near Crowsnest Pass

Highway 3 west of Coleman to BC, travel not recommended at this time (Tuesday, February 8, 12:20 pm) according to @511Alberta road conditions map .

Notes from recent Pincher Creek council meetings

Headlines:

Proposed curling rink location a concern for citizen

Ski Academy/Minor Hockey sponsorships approved

New municipal tax assessor chosen for Town

Town passes fee structure bylaw

Town updates customer contact info

MD increases joint funding contribution

MD's 2018 Capital Budget and 2019-21 Capital Plan approved

No free lunch for MD Council spouses

Megan Metheral appointed to MDSA

Mayor to take Assessment Review Board Training

Town agrees to new 5 year lease for Humane Society/SPCA

MD decides against seat at Chamber table

Napi Pow Wow to receive Town funding

MD changes Facility Committee representation

MD to ask for additional Hwy 3 Open House

Semi rollover on Highway 3 east of Cowley

Updated November 20, 12:19 am

C.Davis/T. Lucas - High winds pummeled the Pincher Creek area yesterday. Pincher Creek Emergency Services (PCES) and RCMP responded to a tractor-trailer rollover on Highway 3 just east of Cowley yesterday afternoon around 2:00 pm. According to PCES Deputy Chief Pat Neumann the semi was carrying a light load, and the driver sustained minor injuries.  Multiple other incidents involving blown-over trailers big and small were reported throughout southwestern Alberta.

According to an Environment Canada wind warning issued for the area at 3:45 pm yesterday, "Strong westerly winds with damaging gusts near 120 km/h will continue in the Crowsnest Pass and Cardston regions until late tonight. Wind gusts of 100 km/h will move into the Lethbridge region this evening and then weaken overnight. Damage to buildings, such as to roof shingles and windows, may occur. Be prepared to adjust your driving with changing road conditions due to high winds. Drivers may lose control of their vehicles; tall vehicles are at risk of being overturned."

According to a Castle Mountain Resort representative Jason Crawford "We had a peak gust of 182 km/h at 8:52 am on November 19th. That was recorded at ridge-top."

TransAlta reports 140 km/hour was recorded at Cowley Ridge. This may not have been the peak activity there.

The high winds have dissipated since then.

The Fire Department was also called out multiple times on Friday by citizens south of town, due to be high flare activity at the Shell Plant (a normal part of the plant's process). Neumann said the fire department would rather people call in their concerns than miss an incident.

Forest area closures update

Forest Area Closure map (Alberta Government)

Chris Davis - Forestry area closures announced yesterday are still in effect for the Calgary Forest Area, south of Highway 532 to the US border and west to the BC border,  Alberta Fire Control Zones 1, 2, and 3, including Waterton Lakes National Park and Castle Wildland Provincial Park. Highway 532 is just north of Chain Lakes and intersects with Highway 22. Highway 22 and Highway 3 remain open for traffic. Pincher Creek Emergency Services is conducting a risk appraisal at this time.  No evacuations have been ordered, but access to most affected areas is restricted to those with permits, with the exception of the communities of Hazell, Sentinel, Tecumseh, Coleman, Bushtown, Blairmore, Frank, Hillcrest Mines, Bellevue, and Burmis.  Click here for a list of locations to obtain an access permit. 

Grass fire west of Coalhurst affecting Highway 3 traffic

A grass fire west of Coalhurst in the middle ditch of Highway 3 is causing delays in the area. (1:28 pm)

@511Alberta Grass fire west of Coalhurst on #hwy3. Traffic backed up eastbound and not moving. #abroads #yql #lethbridge pic.twitter.com/Er0l3MdX2a

— Becs Y. (@bexs56) August 28, 2017

Hwy3 west of Coalhurst grass fire in the middle ditch. Expect delays in the area. (1:28pm) #ABRoads

— 511 Alberta (@511Alberta) August 28, 2017

MVC closes Highway 3 west of BC/AB border

Attn: #ABRoads travelers: BC Hwy3 west of Crowsnest, approx. 2km west of BC/AB border - Closed due to MVC - Expect major delays. (6:08pm)

— 511 Alberta (@511Alberta) March 2, 2017

Winter driving conditions continue for Pincher Creek area roads

 511.alberta.ca highway cameras:

Highway 3 at Cowley this morning

Highway 3 east of Alberta BC. Border 

Highway 22 north of Highway 520

Brocket gas station destroyed by fire (updated)

C. Davis photos

Toni Lucas - The gas station on Highway 3 at Brocket burned down early Saturday morning February 11. According to RCMP Piikani Nation Detachment Commander Ray Starzynski the fire was reported at approximately 2:00 am. Piikani Nation Fire Department and Piikani Nation RCMP responded. There were no injuries, but the structure was almost completely destroyed.

The gas station, a wooden building, was not open for business to the public for a number of years. Although the building was vacant it contained items appropriate to a service station including oil and other flammables.

According to Starzynski, the fire started inside of the building and the investigation into the cause of it is still ongoing. "Because it was a gas station, basically there were accelerants everywhere. There were oil containers, all sorts of stuff throughout the entire building."

If anyone has any information on this incident or any other please contact the Piikani RCMP at 403-965-2001 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or through the internet at www.tipsubmit.com.  Crimestoppers does not subscribe to call display and the identity of the caller will remain anonymous.

Taber man crtitically injured while walking on Hwy 3 near Coaldale

RCMP Alberta - On January 20, 2017 at 7:40 p.m. Coaldale RCMP and Lethbridge Fire/EMS were dispatched to a pedestrian vehicle collision on Highway 3 at the Sunnyside Road just east of the City of Lethbridge. The initial investigation reveals a pickup truck was travelling eastbound on Highway 3 and struck a 47 year old man from Taber, Alberta while he was on Highway 3. The exact point of impact appears to be close to the driving lane. The man was wearing dark clothing. At time of the collision the road was dry, weather mild but dark with no artificial light in the area.

Fatal MVC on Hwy 3 between Pincher Creek and Brocket

Updated

RCMP Alberta - On December 24, 2016, at 11:30 am, Pincher Creek RCMP and RCMP Collision Analyst responded to a serious motor vehicle collision on Highway 3, approximately 5 km east of the Highway 6 turnoff.

Serious injury single vehicle rollover on Hwy 3 near Monarch

RCMP Alberta - On Dec. 23, 2016 at 7:20 p.m. Coaldale RCMP responded to a single vehicle rollover collision on Highway 3 near Monarch. The vehicle, an older pickup truck, lost control on the eastbound lanes of Highway 3 eventually rolling a number of times coming to a rest on the centre median.

Lethbridge area highways in poor winter driving conditions

RCMP Alberta - Motorists are advised all Highways around Lethbridge are in very poor winter driving conditions. They are extremely icy. There have already been many collisions. All are minor to this point. Do not travel if you do not have to. 

If you have to travel:

• Lower your speeds drastically
• Do not brake or turn sharply
• Extend your distance between other vehicles
• Slow even more BEFORE entering curves.
• Start slowing long before you have to make a turn of the highway.
• Do not pass - you'll get there.
• Don't make lane changes if not absolutely necessary - you'll get there.