Officials have renamed the Southwest Calgary Ring Road “Tsuut’ina Trail” as construction continues on the southwest portion of the road.
“I can’t think of a better name for this important piece of infrastructure than Tsuut’ina Trail. It is a reminder of our common path as neighbours and fellow citizens,” said Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi, who was on hand for the renaming of the roadway.
Nenshi was joined by Tsuut’ina Chief Lee Crowchild, federal Veterans Affairs Minister Kent Hehr and Alberta Transportation Minister Brian Mason.
The southwest ring road, between Highway 8 and Highway 22X, will include approximately 31 kilometres of six and eight-lane divided highway, with 14 interchanges, one road flyover, a railway crossing and two river realignments.
WATCH BELOW: Global News’ past coverage of the Southwest Calgary Ring Road
Crowchild said he’d like the entire ring road to be renamed Tsuut’ina Trail.
“No disrespect to my Nakoda brothers. The city, over history, has been good in naming streets for other nations, but because we work so closely with the city it just seems that would make sense,” Crowchild said. “All respect to the Stoney Nakoda’s, the brothers and sisters out there, but we want to include them in part of the conversation in the future as well.”
The $2.2-billion dollar project is expected to be nearly complete and open to traffic by 2021.
Mountain View Partners has been contracted to construct, maintain and operate the road for 30 years.
It’s estimated the Calgary Ring Road will see upwards of 100,000 vehicles per day on some sections of the roadway.