Farm machinery moved in last night to block road (File Photo Courtesy Jake Zacharias/ Lethbridge News Now)

By Brian Konrad

Latest road closure a surprise to mayor of Coutts

Feb 8, 2022 | 12:49 PM

COUTTS, AB— Like many, the mayor of Coutts was surprised to learn of another blockade at the border crossing into the U.S. late last night.

It was the latest development in the unfolding drama that’s been happening near Coutts since late last month.

The latest blockade involved some giant farm machinery that blocked the highway in both directions late last night.

Mayor Jim Willett says no one seems to know where they came from or why, which highlights the feeling by some about a lack of cohesive leadership among the protestors.

“Individuals I’ve talked to in the protest group said that’s still the situation to some extent,” according to Willett.

“They think they’ve got everything figured out and then somebody else will take off on a tangent,” says Willett.

The mayor says that makes negotiations difficult because ” you talk to who the guy who you figure is making the decisions and he goes back to the group and you find out there’s somebody else that’s got another opinion so you start all over again.”

The large farm machinery had pulled over to the side of the road by the time Willett had to leave Coutts this morning for a meeting in Milk River.

He said it was a fairly normal trip, but he might need to find alternate route back to Coutts.

Meanwhile, he says the situation in Coutts has improved with access for emergency vehicles not a problem most days.

School bus service, mail and couriers are getting through most of the time, although drivers on a delivery schedule might be discouraged by the lineup at Milk River and choose to try another day.

Just after 11 a.m. Tuesday, Mounties said that traffic was again flowing freely northbound from the U.S.

However large commercial vehicles bound for the U.S. were being advised to crossings at Aden, Del Bonita and Carway to avoid further delays.