The Transportation Minister says once the southeast leg of the ring road is completed, Deerfoot Trail should become the city's responsibility.
Since taking over the roadway, the province has spent 170 million dollars on upgrades. It also pays for a multi-million dollar maintenance contract with Carmacks that includes snow removal.
The city would have to shoulder those responsibilities and costs if it regained control of the roadway.
The city will have no choice in the matter, it will have to assume responsibility for the major thoroughfare, but it can try to negotiate terms with the province.
The province took over the care and maintenance of Deerfoot Trail in 2000 because it is used as a provincial highway, but once the new bypass option is complete, potentially by the Fall of 2013, the Deerfoot becomes a local road.
Currently the City of Calgary handles policing of the road, the province pays for upkeep such as paving and snow removal.
Negotiations have yet to begin between the province and the city.
