Portion of southwest ring road officially opens

CALGARY (660 NEWS) – After decades of discussion and construction, a Calgary project has finally hit a major milestone.

A 12-kilometre section of the city’s southwest portion of the ring road, known as Tsuut’ina Trail, officially opened to traffic on Thursday.

Premier Jason Kenney will join Mayor Naheed Nenshi, Transportation Minister Ric McIver and Chief of the Tsuut’ina First Nation Roy Whitney attended a ceremony just after noon to officially open the section which runs from Sarcee Trail down to Fish Creek Blvd. SW.

The remaining portion of the project leading to Highway 22X is scheduled to be completed by 2021.

https://twitter.com/Tommy_Slick/status/1311743421745299456

“We’re one step closer to having a free-flowing road circling Alberta’s largest city,” said Premier Jason Kenney. “The Tsuut’ina Trail will be an asset for Calgarians for years to come. This road will improve commutes and help create more opportunities for job creators and Calgarians who will benefit from this world-class infrastructure. As the rest of this road is completed, it will also create good jobs to get folks back to work.”

#TBT to announcing federal funds for the Southwest Calgary Ring Road in 2015????

Today I got to participate in the opening of the Tsuu T’ina Trail portion of the Road. 80% of the SW Ring Road is complete, and will be open for traffic this fall. Thank-you to the Tsuu T’ina Nation! https://t.co/XSlPlqkZWP

— Jason Kenney ???????????????????????? (@jkenney) October 1, 2020

Construction of Tsuut’ina Trail began in 2016 will eventually connect Highway 8 and Macleod Trail and includes 47 bridges and 14 interchanges.

“When our citizens approved the transfer of the land for the ring road, it was in large measure to allow us to develop our lands. With the opening of the ring road, we can continue our development Taza, which will provide economic prosperity to the Tsuut’ina Nation and to the City of Calgary,” said Chief Roy Whitney, Tsuut’ina Nation

Last month, the Tsuut’ina First Nation celebrated the opening of a Costco which paved the way for further construction of the ring road project.

The store opened on 130 Ave SW as part of the “Shops at Buffalo Run” development.

RELATED: Tsuut’ina Nation celebrates opening of Calgary’s newest Costco

Discussions around building the alternate road around the causeway started in the 1970s, and the province finally bought the land from the Tsuut’ina First Nation in 2013 for $350 million and included a land swap.

The announcement on the opening of the section is expected around noon Thursday.