Mayor Naheed Nenshi is weighing in on the debate over whether construction of the ring road should be delayed because of the downturn in the provincial economy.
Premier Jim Prentice says his government is reviewing the project, along with other planned capital expenditures, because of falling resource revenue.
But Mayor Nenshi says it makes sense to build the southwest leg of the ring road now. The mayor says it would be similar to the stimulus spending that took place after the last recession.
“They (spending programs) worked to keep our economy going and to help us through that recession better than pretty much anywhere in the world,” said Mayor Nenshi.
“And with interest rates at historic lows and construction costs stating to fall, it really makes a lot of sense to build giant infrastructure projects while it’s cheap.”
Lisa Dahlseide, of the Weaselhead/Glenmore Preservation Society, says the economics of delaying the $5 billion road have to be considered.
“It’s going to be even more expensive than even that 5 billion dollar price tag,” said Dahlseide.
“And its a road we don’t expect is going to help increase traffic congestion for people going downtown – it’s going to make it worse for them.”
But delaying the project could be difficult, because of a contract the province signed with the Tsuu T’ina Nation – guaranteeing the project would be completed on Tsuu T’ina land with seven years of the federal land transfer.
“It (the time frame) hasn’t been set yet with the land transfer, and it might be delayed,” said Allie Tulick, President of the Lakeview Community Association.
“But having delays with the southwest ring road isn’t uncommon – we kind of expect that there might be delays,” she added.
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the Tsuu T’ina Nation says it expects the government to live up to it’s contractual obligations.
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