The U.S. government’s decision to close a nine-mile stretch of quiet gravel road along the Canadian border to improve security has provoked outrage among locals on both sides of the border.
The stretch in question, known as Border Road, is home to the Sweet Grass/Coutts crossing and sits on the Montana side of the windswept plains, although it is maintained by Warner County, Alberta.
The route has operated harmoniously for decades, but the U.S. has now moved to close it to Canadian drivers from July 1, citing concerns about illegal entrants and drug smuggling as it seeks to further restrict access.
Alberta Transportation Minister Devin Dreeshen has already pledged to build a replacement road on the Canadian side, saying $8 million has been set aside for construction, which is due to commence in April with a view to completion this summer.
“We were informed by Homeland Security that they were making sure that this and other areas of U.S. soil at the border were going to be enforced,” Dreeshen told The Canadian Press.
“We obviously went through the process to make sure we were able to expedite this [road], working with the County of Warner to make sure local access for Albertans [was available] on the Canadian side of the border.
“Regardless of the line on the map, you’ll have farmers on both sides of the border, you’ll have family friends on both sides of the border. I think obviously that will continue.”
The Canadian Press also spoke to two local residents in their 60s, living on either side of the road, who have been friends since childhood and were once profiled by National Geographic as a glowing example of friendship between neighboring Americans and Canadians.
Ross Ford, on the Alberta side, said of the closure: “It’s unfortunate. We’ve enjoyed free access to the road for, I guess, about 80 years, way before I was born.
“We’ve always been very close to our neighbours. Of course, they live in Montana and that won’t change – but we have this new barrier.”
Roger Horgus, speaking from Montana, said: “It’s ridiculous. I hate to see it because the Canadians have taken such good care of us and the road, with grading and all of that.”
Horgus said that U.S. border patrol officials had told residents the shutdown was necessary because there had been an increase in illegal traffic, although he said that he personally had seen no evidence of that happening.
Ford said of Alberta’s replacement route: “The roads will basically parallel each other for the full length of the road.
“So we’ll have our road, and they’ll have their road. And the border will be in the ditch!”
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