As talks drag on over an elusive deal to build the southwest portion of the ring road, Ald. Barry Erskine wants to rekindle interest in the idea of digging a tunnel under or near the Weaselhead to connect 37th Street.

A group of "professionals" has been working on a plan and a cost assessment that Erskine says could make it far more attractive than waiting another five to 10 years for a road to be built across Tsuu T'ina land.

"This could be done in two and a half years and at a reasonable price," said Erskine. "The idea is not dead, it's alive and very healthy."

Erskine said an open house presentation should be organized by early February to make a pitch for the idea. He said the design is more innovative than the tunnel plan he supported in 2001, but declined to elaborate.

Under a timeline set in March 2005, an agreement was to have been reached between the Tsuu T'ina and the province on the ring road last September. The two sides are now waiting for a land appraisal, expected to be completed this month, in order to set a value on the land in question for final negotiations.

The First Nation and the province will then have to come to an agreement on a final price, whether that's cash, a land swap or a combination of the two.

The Tsuu T'ina has said it would like to take a deal to its members this summer for ratification.

A finalized deal would still require approval from the federal government which could take another year and then construction of the 20-kilometre road, which could cost up to $1 billion, would likely take three to four years.

Mayor Dave Bronconnier said the city can't wait while watching traffic congestion grow increasingly worse, particularly at 37th Street and Glenmore Trail where approval on a new interchange awaits a ring road agreement.

"If they don't reach a deal this year, we would have to consider other options, whether that's building a fly over at 37th Street or a tunnel or not building it all," said Bronconnier. "But 37th and Glenmore is at failure, there are too many cars going through there now. It does not function. We need to see an agreement in place this year."

Brent Johner, president of the Weaselhead Society, said he's heard talk of a tunnel before and it has never amounted to more than a "pipe dream."

"I like to refer to that as the gopher plan," said Johner. "Nobody has been able to convincingly demonstrate that that idea is at all feasible.

"At this point, I'd be enormously skeptical until I hear them out. Knowing what I know, it doesn't sound credible."

smyers@theherald.canwest.com