Construction on Calgary ring road halted after appeal

The Alberta government has issued a stay of construction on part of the southwest Calgary ring road, after opposition from local group YYC Cares.

The group is protesting the diverting of the Elbow River, and the construction of a kilometre-long earthen berm, along with a 150 metre-long bridge spanning the distance.

The project would also require filling in 24 wetlands in the Weaselhead area.

Allie Tulick, YYC Cares spokesperson, says the loss of the wetlands would put nearby homeowners at risk if there’s another flood event like in 2013.

“The wetlands will absorb 1.5 billion gallons of flood waters, so they’re very critical in our defence for flood mitigation” says Tulick. “And the whole bridge design is negating flood management best practices.”

Tulick says they don’t want to stop construction outright, but instead they’re proposing a different type of bridge, more like the open-span one on Stoney Trail over the Bow River in the northwest.

This design would avoid the need to remove the wetlands.

In the current plan, there are a couple of storm water ponds proposed to replace the wetlands, but Tulick doesn’t think they would be sufficient.

“They just collect the toxins and particles from runoff, but because they’re in the lowlands they’re going to, during a flood, potentially wash out into the Glenmore reservoir, which could contaminate our water.”

Tulick says the stay was achieved through lots of effort including letters of concern, which were shot down.

“Those were rejected, so we appealed and this is the stage we’re at in that process,” she says. “We’re happy to have a stay with Alberta Environment and Parks and we get this opportunity to present our case.”

On Monday, the group will make their presentation and learn the next steps in the process.