During the 2010 municipal election, mayor-to-be Naheed Nenshi promised to build an airport tunnel.
And just after midnight on Tuesday, Nenshi delivered on that promise — barely. After a six-hour debate, council approved the $295-million infrastructure in an eight-to-seven vote.
The Calgary Airport Authority is set to begin construction on a new runway in April, closing Barlow Trail, a main artery to the airport, north of McKnight Blvd.
Council also agreed to look at alternative funding for the tunnel, including charging drivers a road toll and collecting levies from area businesses.
The next day, council, minus the mayor and Ald. Brian Pincott, voted 10-3 to phase out fluoride from city drinking water.
A motion by Ald. Gael MacLeod to have a university panel review scientific literature and report to council was shot down, as was Ald. Richard Pootman’s motion to bring the issue to a citywide plebiscite.
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