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Wildlife overpass east of Canmore officially named in honour of Peter Lougheed

A $17.5-million wildlife overpass near Lac Des Arcs in the Municipal District of Bighorn No. 8 has officially been dedicated to a former Alberta premier.

Devin Dreeshen, Alberta’s Minister of Transportation and Economic Corridors, was on hand last Friday to announce that it will officially be named the Honourable Peter Lougheed Wildlife Overpass. Dreeshen says “this new wildlife overpass is actually the first of its kind in Alberta – outside of a national park – and it will create a safe passage for wildlife to cross both in and out of Kananaskis Country. Wildlife such as deer, elk, coyotes, and lynx have already been using the crossing before it was officially opened.”

Dreeshen adds, in addition to building this overpass, the government of Alberta has developed the Alberta wildlife watch – a driver safety program aimed at preventing animal-vehicle collisions. He says “now the Alberta wildlife watch identifies collision prone locations along the highway network and mitigates these problems to keep Albertans and wildlife safe. Now, Alberta’s government is committed to our safety on our highways while maintaining and enhancing natural migration patterns and protecting wildlife.”

Dreeshen – who is also the MLA for Innisfail-Sylvan Lake – points out that on this stretch of Trans-Canada highway on average about 60 collisions per year occur and it is estimated the Honourable Peter Lougheed Wildlife Overpass will reduce those collisions by about 80 per cent.

Construction of the overpass began in 2022 and it was completed last fall. It is located about 80 kilometers west of Calgary and approximately 30 kilometers east of Canmore.

Galen Hartviksen
Galen Hartviksen
Straight outta northwestern Ontario, Galen moved from his hometown of Thunder Bay to Alberta in 1998. After graduating from the broadcasting program at Mount Royal College (Class of 2003), it was off to the Town of Olds for the launch of the independent radio station (CAB-K Broadcasting). A fan of all seasons, Galen has been News Director & the voice of the Alberta Junior Hockey League's Olds Grizzlys on 96.5 CKFM/ROCK 104.5 for two decades and in 2024 he was excited to have the opportunity to join the team at Vista Radio and My Mountain View Now.

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