Advertisement

Final section of southwest Calgary ring road opens

Click to play video: 'Final section of southwest Calgary ring road opens'
Final section of southwest Calgary ring road opens
After several years of construction, Calgary’s southwest ring road is now complete. The final section of the over-a-billion-dollar project was unveiled Saturday afternoon, but as Matthew Conrod reports, the celebratory mood did not last long – Oct 2, 2021

After five years of construction and $1.4 billion later, Calgary’s southwest ring road is complete.

Transportation Minister Rajan Sawhney, Minister of Municipal Affair Ric McIver and Mayor Naheed Nenshi were on hand Saturday afternoon to officially open the final stretch between Fish Creek Boulevard and Highway 22X.

“Opening this section of the ring road is a major accomplishment,” said Sawhney. “[It] builds on Alberta’s recovery plan to create jobs, build infrastructure and diversify our economy.”

The 31-kilometre roadway will connect Highway 8 with Macleod Trail, and according to the ministry of transportation, created 2,000 “good-paying” jobs.

For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen.

Get breaking National news

For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen.
By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.

Shortly into the ceremony, the celebratory tone changed.

Story continues below advertisement

While welcoming the mayor to the podium, McIver was interrupted by protester and Tsuut’ina Nation member Seth Cardinal Dodginghorse, who took to the microphone to voice his opposition to the road.

The ceremony was being livestreamed online, but the audio to the microphone was cut as soon as Cardinal Dodginghorse began to speak, meaning his words could only be heard by those in attendance.

“I challenge the Tsuut’ina people to fight for the land, to fight for our treaty rights and more,” said Cardinal Dodginghorse.

At issue for Cardinal Dodginghorse is the 12-kilometre part of the ring road, Tsuut’ina Trail, that was made possible thanks to a $341-million land transfer deal made in 2013 between the province and Tsuut’ina Nation.

During the October 2020 ceremony to open Tsuut’ina Trail, Cardinal Dodginghorse cut off his braids as a symbolic sign of his protest.

Cardinal Dodginghorse says it’s been an emotional journey since that day.

“Last year was really hard,” he said. “This year, I feel more prepared.”

Story continues below advertisement

Cardinal Dodginghorse is asking Calgarians to show their support by avoiding driving on the road.

“I lost my home. I lost my family’s land,” he said.

“I’m not afraid to speak up because what else can I lose from speaking up?”

Sponsored content

AdChoices