The provincial government has pencilled in $557 million over the next three years for Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre expansion.
For this budget year, $129 million has been committed, with $182 million coming in 2026-27 and $246 million in 2027-28, according to the capital budget delivered by Finance Minister Nate Horner on Thursday.
The budget also sets aside $22 million over three years – $9 million this year – for an interim cardiac catheterization lab, which will be moved to a permanent home when the hospital expansion is further along.
Another big ticket item for central Alberta is the Highway 11 twinning project. The budget includes $50 million this year, $62 million in 2026-27 and $96 million in 2027-28 for a total expenditure of $208 million over three years.
Red Deer Regional Airport's expansion project is getting $4 million this year and $8 million next year.
Red Deer Polytechnic (RDP) is getting $5 million this year and $5 million in 2026-27 for expansion of the east campus Centre for Innovation in Manufacturing Technology Access Centre (CIM-TAC).
CIM-TAC houses $7.6 million in prototype and advanced manufacturing equipment. Nearly 60 projects were completed in 2023-24 in the centre, which generated $15 million in investments and revenue.
Government funding will go towards expanding the centre to 30,000 square feet from 15,000 square feet to boost RDP's applied research, education and training capacity.
Olds College of Agriculture and Technology is in line for $25 million this year and another $25 million next year for the expansion and renovation of W. J. Elliott Building (Trades Building).
The province announced in March 2024 that $63 million had been earmarked for the expansion, which the college called a significant step towards enhancing student spaces and supporting the growing demand for skilled trades education. Last year, $13 million was provided and the budget reflects the remaining $50 million commitment.
The proposed Ardley Reservoir project west of Red Deer is getting $4 million in the budget.
The 2024 provincial budget allocated $4.5 million to explore creating the new reservoir at a dam site.
Work is now to begin on a "scoping phase," which will include reviewing available geotechnical and hydrotechnical information and exploring conceptual dam options. This phase includes meetings with municipalities and water users in the area to hear their views. The scoping phase is expected to be completed by December 2025.
There is more money – $2 million this year and $8 million in 2026-27 – allocated to the Red Deer Justice Centre that is scheduled to open next week.
Construction on the $207 million centre began in 2020. The new 313,200 square-foot facility will serve as the replacement for the former courthouse, constructed in 1982.
The capital budget also includes $8 million this year for a Sundre wastewater treatment plant and $8 million over two years for improvements to a road serving O'Chiese First Nation, northwest of Rocky Mountain House.
