US officials have decided to close a nine-mile road stretch along the border of Montana and Alberta. The closure is expected to take place on July 1, due to increased security concerns.
Since more than eighty years, this road, also known as the Border Road or Border Road Road, allows informal crossings of nearby farming communities. Since the 1940s, many locals from both sides of the border have freely used this road.
The decision was based on security concerns
The US authorities say that they have closed the road due to an increase in illegal immigration and drug trafficking. Although the road lies on the US-side, Canadian officials maintain it.This decision has a direct impact on the people who live in this area.
Canada plans a new alternative route
Alberta has responded by approving funding for a new Canadian road.
Construction will begin in April, and be completed by the summer. The new route will, according to officials, reduce the amount of disruption. However it can’t replace the old road.
Strong Cross-Border Ties Remain
People living close to the border claim that their relationship will remain the same despite the closing. Long-standing ties between farmers, friends, and families have existed across the border.
Residents remember an era when border crossings were simple. The border was not a barrier to children visiting each other. Neighbors remained close regardless of where the line ran.
The Economic Impact of Daily Traffic
Coutts-Sweet Grass, a nearby crossing still remains a significant trade route. It is a major trade route for between 800 and 1200 trucks per day. Every year, the route is responsible for billions in US-Canadian trade.
Locals are concerned that the closure of roads will have a greater impact on daily life than business.
Border Communities are facing a new era
This decision signifies the end for many of these residents of an old way of living. It was much more than a road. The road symbolized the trust and relationship between two countries.
Many believe that a new border road will not replace the convenience and history of the old Border Road.
