WINNIPEG - April 11, 2008 - The City's annual spring cleanup of streets, walks, back lanes, and boulevards is scheduled to begin Sunday night, April 13, 2008.

Most sweeping on the regional streets will take place at night, when traffic volumes are lowest. Daytime sweeping will focus primarily on collector and residential streets. Once the regional streets are completed, crews will work day and night on the balance of residential streets.

Boulevard cleanup will focus first on boulevards and centre medians along major routes. Cleanup of boulevards in residential areas is limited to areas where there is excessive accumulation of sand.

"Cleanup crews must watch the weather closely in the early weeks of the campaign and stop operations if night time temperatures fall below freezing." said Bill Larkin, Director of Public Works, "During the cleanup, water is sprayed onto the streets to control dust. When temperatures fall below freezing we can't use water and are forced to curtail sweeping. Similarly frozen boulevards can’t effectively be cleaned."

It is estimated that approximately 45,000 tonnes of aggregate (from winter ice control) will be removed from streets, walks, and boulevards during the cleanup. Motorists and pedestrians are asked to use caution around heavy equipment which will be operating throughout the city over the coming weeks.

Motorists are also advised to watch for temporary No Parking signs on city streets. These signs, placed well in advance of sweeping operations, indicate the hours of prohibited parking. Vehicles parked in violation of the prohibited times may be ticketed and towed at the owners expense. In 2007, over 1,600 vehicles were ticketed and towed.

In accordance with City of Winnipeg By-law 64/2003, the public is reminded that it is an offence to place temporary signs in the public rights-of-way e.g. on boulevards, sidewalks and medians as these signs may impact on the safety of motorists and pedestrians, create traffic hazards and impede cleanup activities.

The $3.5 million cleanup is expected to take four to five weeks and will involve approximately 200 pieces of equipment and more than 500 people.

WINNIPEG - April 11, 2008 - The City of Winnipeg would like to remind motorists that rehabilitation of the westbound structure of the Fort Garry Twin Bridges will begin on Sunday, April 13, 2008 and will take approximately five months to complete. Preparation for the bridge project began on Saturday, April 5, however, the traffic diversion that is being set up to re-route traffic traveling westbound on Bishop Grandin Boulevard onto the eastbound structure of the Fort Garry Twin Bridges, will not operate until April 13. During construction, the eastbound structure will accommodate two lanes of traffic in the eastbound direction and one lane of traffic in the westbound direction. While the final stages of the diversion are being set up on Sunday, April 13, traffic delays can be expected in the area and it is recommended that motorists allow additional traveling time and give consideration to alternative routes.

Construction work includes widening the structure with an additional westbound lane to exit onto Pembina Highway, the rehabilitation of the concrete decks, replacement of concrete traffic barriers, strengthening of steel bridge supporting girders and reconstruction of connecting roads. In the beginning of construction, traffic will be counted and adjustments such as re-timing traffic signal lights will be made to improve traffic flow as required.

The Public Works Department will be promoting active transportation options such as commuter cycling alternatives during the bridge closure. A sidewalk over the bridges and pedestrian and cycling connections to it will be maintained throughout the rehabilitation of the bridges. In addition, pedestrian and cycling routes that connect to the bridge, transit options, and cycling networks to downtown will be identified.

This fall, Public Works will construct a detour in the opposite direction and plans to complete the rehabilitation of the eastbound structure in 2009.

The total cost of the project is estimated to be $20 million for both bridges including roadwork.

Transit routes 16, 51, 75, 76, and 101 will be maintained during construction. For more transit information, visit www.winnipegtransit.com.

Additional project information can be found at winnipeg.ca/FortGarryBridge

WINNIPEG - April 11, 2008 - The City of Winnipeg’s municipal golf courses welcome golfers of all ages and skill levels as they begin their 2008 golf season. John Blumberg Golf will open for the season on Saturday, April 12, 2008.

• John Blumberg Golf Course
  4540 Portage Avenue
  Phone: 311

The four remaining municipal golf courses will open as conditions allow. More details will follow as course openings are confirmed.

With daytime highs predicted to be up to 11 degrees Celsius it should be a perfect weekend to get outside and celebrate spring on the golf course!

Note to players: The earliest tee times will vary each day according to overnight temperatures. To avoid frost damage, daily play will not be permitted until conditions are favourable.

WINNIPEG - April 11, 2008 - The City of Winnipeg wishes to advise that the North End Centennial Pool (located at 90 Sinclair Street) will be closed from Friday, April 11, 2008 until Sunday, April 13, 2008, for water quality maintenance work. The pool will reopen for regular hours on Monday, April 14, 2008.