MEDIA RELEASE:

WINNIPEG January 07, 2008 - The Public is advised that riverbank stabilization work will commence at St. Vital Park, 190 River Road, on Monday, January 7, 2008. Site preparation for the work has been completed for the stabilization of approximately 350 meters of riverbank. To facilitate the Phase I stabilization works, some of the park roads will be closed starting January 7, 2008.

Visitors to the park will enter and exit using the North Gate entrance only (opposite Falconer Bay). Park amenities including the skating pond, toboggan slides and washrooms will remain open. Walking trails and cross country ski trails will be re-routed. The Public will be required to park in designated parking locations only. The St Vital Park Chip-it Program for Christmas tree drop-off will be relocated to the boat launch parking lot (off River Drive). The road closures will be in effect until March 15, 2008.

As construction vehicles will be used in the project, the public is advised to use caution near designated work areas. Road access to the northern and central parts of the Park will be limited for safety purposes.

This project will be completed in two phases. Phase I will be completed in the winter 2008 and will involve stabilizing the riverbank with rock fill columns, river edge erosion protection, and riverbank regrading. Phase II works will occur over the spring and summer of 2008 and consist of riverbank landscape restoration works to establish the river bottom forest area by planting native species of tress, shrubs and grasses.

This section of riverbank at the Park has been subject to extensive bank failures resulting in the City having to relocate portions of the Park riverbank pathway. The centre of this slide activity has retrogressed to within 10 meters of the river frontage road. This project is estimated at approximately $2 million with funding provided from the City's Capital Works Riverbank Stabilization Program.

MEDIA RELEASE:

WINNIPEG January 7, 2008 - The public is advised that a City-wide plowing operation of sidewalks is currently underway. Plowing and sanding of sidewalks on Priority 1 and Priority 2 routes, which includes main routes, bus routes and collector streets, is required to improve conditions on sidewalks due to drifting snow last week and freezing rain over the weekend. Sidewalks on residential streets will also be plowed once the Priority 1 and 2 sidewalks have been completed.

The plowing of sidewalks will continue until completed and will cost approximately $300,000.

The City of Winnipeg encourages the public to use extreme caution when approaching any snow clearing equipment.

Plowing operations commenced in accordance with the Council approved Snow and Ice Control policy. Please see City of Winnipeg Snow Clearing Policy for further information.