New Alberta wildlife overpass over Trans-Canada named in honour of Peter Lougheed

A new wildlife overpass over the Trans-Canada Highway west of Calgary has been named in honour of former Alberta premier.

The province says the overpass along Highway 1 near Lac Des Arcs has been named the Honourable Peter Lougheed Wildlife Overpass to recognize his role in creating Kananaskis Country in an effort to protect the region’s natural beauty.

Kananaskis was created by Lougheed in 1978. The Alberta Parks website says he was convinced to establish the park after a single helicopter ride over the jagged mountains.

The $17.5 million overpass was completed last year after construction began in 2022. It’s Alberta’s first outside a national park and sits at a major wildlife corridor.

The new project is expected to reduce collisions involving animals by 80 per cent.

The crossing is already being used by animals, including deer, elk, and lynx.