![\"Text](\"https:\/\/www.cbc.ca\/a\/assets\/texttospeech.svg\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Listen to this article<\/p>\n
Estimated 4 minutes<\/p>\n
The audio version of this article is generated by AI-based technology. Mispronunciations can occur. We are working with our partners to continually review and improve the results.<\/p>\n
LISTEN | Full interview with Roger Horgus:<\/p>\n
As It Happens6:12Canadians will be banned from using Border Road in Coutts, Alta., starting on July 1<\/p>\n
Roger Horgus is a wheat farmer from Sweet Grass Hills, Mont. He grew up just a few kilometres away from the Canada-U.S. border.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The 14-kilometre stretch of manicured gravel that connects his community to Coutts, Alta., is nicknamed Border Road.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe’d go across on bicycles or go karts or horseback or whatever and spend an hour or two chumming with each other,\u201d he told As It Happens host Nil K\u00f6ksal.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Like many Americans living in border towns, Horgus\u2019s family knew a lot of Canadians, and they considered their northern neighbours friends and good people.<\/p>\n
But that carefree ease of access is set to end this summer, thanks to U.S. President Donald Trump.<\/p>\n
Starting July 1, Canadians will be barred from using the historic road, and a parallel gravel path will be laid down on the Canadian side. Horgus doesn\u2019t support the change.<\/p>\n
\u201cI didn’t think it was fair because they made some sort of a deal and I feel the U.S. reneged on it,\u201d he said. \u201cYou’re just going to see a lot of wasted money building two roads.\u201d<\/p>\n
Road closure frustrates residents on both sides of the border\u00a0<\/p>\n
Border Road was born out of the Treaty of 1908. The agreement led to Canada and the U.S. adopting modern surveying techniques for creating boundaries resulting in several changes to the border.<\/p>\n
The shared road is on the Montana side, but maintained by Alberta.<\/p>\n
Alberta Transportation Minister Devin Dreeshen signalled last year that changes were coming in 2026. Dreeshen told the Canadian Press<\/a> that $8 million has been allocated to build the gravel path. Construction is scheduled to begin in April with the goal of having the road ready by summer.\u00a0<\/p>\n Horgus says residents were asked to share their opinion about the proposed changes, but he believes the meetings were just attempts to appease them.<\/p>\n \u201cThey acted like they wanted our opinion but they had already made all the decisions. But why\u2019d they even come and ask us?\u201d he said.<\/p>\n The road closure is the latest move aligned with Trump\u2019s approach to the U.S. border. Trump says he wants Border Road closed along with other security measures to prevent cross-border drug traffickers and illegal immigrants from entering the U.S.<\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1775052618_58_default.jpg\")
A shared port of entry between Sweetgrass, Mont., and Coutts, Alb. (U.S. Government)<\/p>\n