November 17, 2015
Manitoba Government Commits to Replacing Traffic Light Intersections with Modern Interchanges on South Perimeter Highway
– – –Safe, Seamless Drive Part of Vision for Continued Investments in Core Infrastructure Across Province: Premier Selinger
In the 2015 throne speech, the Manitoba government is committed to a strategic redevelopment of the Perimeter Highway that would see all ground-level intersections replaced with modern interchanges, Premier Greg Selinger announced today.
“Following two years of record investments in building and upgrading highways across the province, we are now preparing to launch a new wave of unprecedented construction on the Perimeter Highway that will see traffic flowing smoothly, safely and without interruption,” Premier Selinger said. “We will ensure Winnipeg has the high-quality transportation system that its citizens deserve and that will help them build the economy of the future.”
There are currently 10 ground-level intersections controlled by traffic lights around the Perimeter Highway. The premier noted work has already started on modernizing the intersection of PTH 59 and the north Perimeter Highway. He said upgrades on the southwest Perimeter Highway linking the primary truck routes of the Trans-Canada Highway and PTH 75 with CentrePort will be the next priority.
Premier Selinger said these projects will help make Winnipeg a modern transportation hub for North America by replacing ground level intersections, with safer and more efficient diamond interchanges at four additional locations:
- a new interstate standard diamond interchange at PTH 3 (McGillivray Boulevard);
- a new Kenaston Boulevard and Waverley Street interchange;
- a new interchange at St. Mary’s Road; and
- a new interchange at St. Anne’s Road.
“What is significant to Manitoba’s economy is that there is a clear focus on investing in infrastructure to enable productivity and therefore competitiveness, which generates investment, jobs and revenues to governments with which to fund our quality-of-life programs,” said Chris Lorenc, president, Manitoba Heavy Construction Association. “A 10-year core infrastructure program is needed to assure that permanent investment strategies in trade and transportation assets result in economic growth and prosperity.”
“This investment, while certainly welcomed by the trucking industry, will have significant benefits to our tourism industry and to any members of the commercial or industrial supply chain,” said Terry Shaw, executive director, Manitoba Trucking Association. “These kinds of strategic upgrades come with many other perks for all Manitobans. They improve our quality of life, they improve road safety and they help the environment by permitting vehicles to operate at peak efficiency, rather than idling at lights.”
The premier noted the province’s core infrastructure plan includes strategic construction projects such as an extension of CentrePort Canada Way to provide a bypass of Headingley, investing in the reconstruction and raising of PTH 75 to keep it open during floods, and modernizing the Pembina-Emerson border crossing to improve traffic flow.
“These important upgrades will employ thousands of people in good-paying jobs, significantly benefit commercial traffic and make commuting to work and home much more pleasant well into the future,” the premier said. “To make sustained investments, we’re committed to a three-year extension of the five-year core infrastructure plan, adding an extra $4.5 billion to the original $5.5 billion, for a total of $10 billion.”
Modernizing the province’s highway system not only benefits motorists and commercial traffic, it can be expected to pay dividends for the trucking industry with lower fuel usage and lower greenhouse gas emissions, the premier added.
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