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The Alberta government is preparing a Plan B for construction on Calgary’s southwest ring road if work in a wetlands area ends up being permanently blocked, says Transportation Minister Brian Mason.

After issuing a stay on construction in four wetlands in August, the Alberta Environmental Appeals Board (EAB) was to hold hearings Oct. 12 and 13 to consider the impact of the project on the area, though the EAB website now says the dates are under review.

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In an interview, Mason said he’s absolutely confident the independent board will allow the work by KGL Constructors to proceed.

But he said officials are looking into contingency plans if construction in the four wetlands in and around the Elbow River Valley is indefinitely impeded.

“Then we’ll certainly have to do a work-around,” he said outside a meeting of the NDP cabinet at McDougall Centre last week.

“But I’ve asked people to start taking a look at that possibility, just in case. We don’t believe for a minute that is actually going to be the case.”