Hundreds turn out to support airport tunnel

Northeast residents worried about plans to close a road by the Calgary airport say they can see the light at the end of their fight for a tunnel.

About 300 people turned out for a meeting on the tunnel idea Monday night, including Mayor Dave Bronconnier.

The Airport Trail Access Committee is fighting for the construction of a tunnel under a new runway set to be built in 2011. Supporters of the idea argue that the subsequent closure of Barlow Trail east of the airport will hurt businesses and commuters.

"We're hopeful. We're seeing a turning on this issue," said Grant Galpin, who helped organize the meeting. "The momentum is starting to shift."

The tunnel would run east-west under the runway on Airport Trail, connecting Deerfoot Trail with 36th Street N.E.

At the height of the boom the price estimate for a tunnel was more than $400 million, but Galpin said a more recent estimate for a basic tunnel put the cost at $150 million.

Last year, city council approved $50 million for a tunnel, on the condition that it would only be built if the province and the federal government matched the funds.

"[We] can't do it alone. It will require the support of the provincial, federal [governments], and of course the airport authority," Bronconnier said.

People who live east of the airport argue closing the access to Barlow Trail without a replacement would kill the area. Business owners along Barlow are also worried about the impact on their establishments.

Hotel owner Richard Brotherstone said customers won't like the idea.

"Having to wait an extra long time to get to the airport and back to and from the hotel — the inconvenience, the extra costs, not only to them [but] to us," he said.