Downtown Wayfinding signs to hit Winnipeg streets next week

WINNIPEG - May 18, 2007- Beginning next week, Downtown drivers and pedestrians will be assisted by new directional Wayfinding signage which will identify the location of major destinations in the downtown. The purpose of the signage is to make it easier for both Winnipeggers and tourists in finding their way around the downtown.

The bilingual signs identify such key destinations as City Hall, the Manitoba Museum, The Forks, the Convention Centre, the MTS Centre, and Millennium Library. The City will be installing 101 new signs at 84 locations on major traffic routes in and out of the downtown. A further 7 sign locations will be added to bring the total to 91 once some downtown building projects are completed (e.g. Manitoba Hydro building) Installation of the signs will begin on May 22 and the work should be completed by June 1.

“This initiative will provide Winnipeggers and visitors alike with easier navigation through our rejuvenated downtown,” said Mayor Sam Katz. “As we continue our forward momentum, the new Wayfinding system will help us highlight and promote the growth that has taken place.”

“We as Winnipeggers often take for granted that we know where the landmarks and places of importance are in our city. However, visitors and tourists often don’t,” said Councillor Russ Wyatt (Chair of Downtown Development). “This new signage will encourage them to explore the heart of our city and promote Winnipeg as a tourist destination.”

Winnipeg is one of the first cities in North America to coordinate the design and appearance of directional signage for both interior and exterior traffic with three program components. The first component involved the interior directional signage located within the downtown weather protected walkway system. That signage was installed in 2006. The street signage is the next phase of the overall Downtown Wayfinding Project.

The second component now involves the placement of the outdoor Wayfinding signage at a cost of $391,200 for manufacture and installation. The signs are made of aluminum plate similar to traffic signs. The outdoor signs coordinate in colour and design with the indoor signs in the walkway system. They are in three eye-catching colours, dark blue, aqua blue, and gold and have a reflective sheathing which will make them visible under headlights at night. The signs vary in size with the largest being 3’ wide x 8’ high (30cm wide x 240 cm high).

The third component of the project involves the supply and installation of interior and exterior pedestrian directional maps and kiosks. Several of these have already been placed in and around the MTS Centre as a pilot project and further directional information kiosks will be installed later this year.

Wayfinding Sign Sample: