CALGARY — Approval has been given to a nearly $300-million traffic tunnel in Calgary that is projected to swell to five times that amount if it’s delayed.
It was just after midnight when bleary-eyed city councillors voted 8-7 in favour of proceeding with the long-debated project near Calgary’s international airport.
The tunnel will carry tens of thousands of vehicles to and from the city’s northeast each day beneath a new runway that’s planned for the airport.
Proceeding with the work after the runway goes in could have boosted the cost to about $1.5 billion.
Mayor Naheed Nenshi discussed the project at a Monday meeting with Premier Ed Stelmach.
Stelmach says the provincial government won’t make any financial commitments to the tunnel until the project undergoes further review.