Wildlife overpass in Alberta named after former premier Peter Lougheed

The Peter Lougheed Wildlife Overpass overpass is located near Lac Des Arcs, approximately 81 kilometres west of Calgary and 29 kilometres east of Canmore. (dialogdesign.ca)

Alberta announced the name of a new wildlife overpass on the Trans-Canada Highway on Friday, saying the structure will pay tribute to former premier Peter Lougheed.

The overpass is located near Lac Des Arcs, approximately 81 kilometres west of Calgary and 29 kilometres east of Canmore.

Construction on the $17.5 million project began in 2022 and was completed last fall.

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Devin Dreeshen, minister of transportation and economic corridors, says naming the structure in honour of Lougheed provides a long-lasting reminder of his work to preserve the area.

“In 1977, premier Lougheed was invited to take a helicopter tour of what is now Kananaskis Country. He was so impressed that he saw that his PC government soon create Kananaskis Country to preserve the breathtaking landscape, rivers, streams and waterfalls,” he said Friday.

“Today, Kananaskis Country spans 4,000 square kilometres and includes five provincial parks.”

The newly named Peter Lougheed Wildlife Overpass is the first in Alberta to be constructed outside of a national park.

According to the province, the wildlife crossing is expected to reduce collisions in the area by an estimated 80 per cent.

The province says animal-vehicle collisions account for about 60 per cent of reported collisions on rural highways.

“This overpass is a major milestone in advancing wildlife crossings in one of the most important landscapes for wildlife movement in the entire Yellowstone to Yukon region,” said Jodi Hilty, president and chief scientist, Y2Y.

“This crossing will help elk, deer, bears and other animals across the Trans-Canada Highway in a way that is safe for them and the tens of thousands of people driving this highway every day,” added Tim Johnson, landscape connectivity specialist, Y2Y.