July 30, 2020
Manitoba Government Transfers Former Highway 59 South to Rural Municipality of Ritchot
The Manitoba government is officially transferring the former Provincial Trunk Highway (PTH) 59 south to the Rural Municipality (RM) of Ritchot, Infrastructure Minister Ron Schuler announced today.
“Our government has been working with the municipality to complete this transfer of old Highway 59 south in the area of Ile des Chênes, as it is of local importance and significance to the community and its economy,” said Schuler. “We have made this transfer a priority and we are proud to have finally made it happen 15 years after the new Highway 59 was built.”
In 2005, the province took the former single-lane PTH 59S out of service when it constructed a new, twinned PTH 59S to accommodate increased traffic volumes. PTH 59 serves major trade, tourism and cottage traffic from the United States border to Winnipeg.
At that time, the province and RM signed a memorandum of understanding that stated the RM would take over responsibility of the road including maintenance.
“We continue to be excited with the benefits of a strong provincial and municipal relationship, as we see the transfer of Old Highway 59 South and all the positive outcomes this will have in our community,” said Mayor Chris Ewen, RM of Ritchot.
The province is transferring Old Highway 59 north of Provincial Road (PR) 210, and PR 300 within the RM of Ritchot and the City of Winnipeg limits, to municipal jurisdiction. In total, it is reallocating more than 14 kilometres of road.
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