PM brings cash to upgrade Calgary airport access
Project to enhance links and provide access between Stoney, Deerfoot trails
On a scorching day, the provincial and federal governments ponied up some cold cash to help Calgary complete Airport Trail.
Just arrived in the city for the Stampede, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced $50 million in federal funding Friday on a sunbaked rooftop parkade at Calgary International Airport with Mayor Naheed Nenshi and provincial Transportation Minister Brian Mason.
The provincial government is putting $27.7 million toward the project, which, when complete, will enhance connections to the airport and provide direct access between Stoney and Deerfoot trails.
Nenshi said the announcement is a “really, really big deal.”
“Anyone who commutes by car in Calgary knows that we are very short of good east-west transportation links,” he told reporters. “This creates a new one between the two highways and beyond into the communities of the northern hills.
“It allows for more access to the airport ... but in addition to that it opens up a whole bunch of development of northeast Calgary.”
The city is contributing $27.5 million and the Calgary Airport Authority $20 million, along with some land costs.
The funding creates an additional route to the airport and addresses one of the major criticisms of the existing Airport Trail by resolving the “tunnel to nowhere” perception by connecting it to Stoney Trail.
The project includes a new segment of Airport Trail between 36 Street N.E. and 60 Street N.E., with an intersection at Métis Trail; construction of the first stage of interchanges along Airport Trail at 19 Street N.E. and Barlow Trail; and construction of a new southbound-to-westbound ramp at the interchange of Stoney Trail and Airport Trail.
Nenshi, a staunch advocate for the expansion of Airport Trail and the 620-metre tunnel that was part of Phase 1, noted that the road also extends the fibre optic network in the city and lays the groundwork for a future rapid transit connection.
“This road enables a future train connection to the airport as well,” said the mayor.
Both Trudeau and Mason stressed the economic benefits of the project, which will see construction begin this year, with an expected completion date of 2022.
“Today’s airports are economic hubs,” said Mason. “Economic development is critical and this will connect the airport to important roadways ... and railways as well.”
Trudeau said the project, which is funded from the National Trade Corridors Fund, represents the type of infrastructure projects that are a priority for his government.
“This project is expected to create nearly 900 well-paying middle-class jobs,” said Trudeau, who was accompanied by Infrastructure Minister Amarjeet Sohi. “It’s a win-win for efficient travel and for good jobs for Canadians.”
Trudeau was to attend the Stampede’s President’s reception on Friday night. On Saturday, he will attend the Stampede breakfast of Calgary Centre MP Kent Hehr and go to the Stampede grounds.
Trudeau had been keeping his distance from Hehr as the MP faced investigation for alleged sexual harassment when he was an MLA in 2008. The probe recently wrapped up and Hehr apologized to Kristin Raworth, who said he had made inappropriate comments to her.
Trudeau’s visit to Calgary comes as he faces the fallout from an alleged groping incident of his own 18 years ago, a hostile new Tory government in Ontario and a looming trade war with the United States under President Donald Trump.
It’s also Trudeau’s first visit since the federal government announced it would purchase the Canadian assets of Kinder Morgan for $4.5 billion to ensure the completion of the Trans Mountain pipeline to the British Columbia coast.