Airport tunnel on special council meeting agenda

A special session of Calgary city council has been called for Friday afternoon for a key meeting about a proposed airport tunnel, officials revealed on Tuesday.

The announcement comes just one day after council approved a motion instructing city officials to extend negotiations with the Calgary Airport Authority for one more week.

The city and the airport have been trying for months to reach an agreement that would allow the $300-million project to go ahead.

The airport is building a new 4,270-metre runway, which forced the closure of Barlow Trail between 48th Avenue and Airport Road N.E. last month.

A tunnel would compensate for the loss of that route to the airport. It would go underneath the new runway, linking Airport Trail (96th Avenue N.E.) on the west side with 36th Street N.E. on the other side.

On Monday Mayor Naheed Nenshi said the city needed to inquire whether the province had any money for interchanges which would be required if the tunnel project proceeds.

The provincial government has said on numerous occasions that it will not pay for the tunnel.