Winnipeg, MB - The public is advised that Plessis Road, from Dugald Road to Kernaghan Avenue, will be closed to vehicular and pedestrian traffic on July 28, 2013. This full closure is required to facilitate the construction of the Plessis Road Underpass, a vital link in east Winnipeg that will make for a more efficient commute for drivers, cyclists and pedestrians.
The project will include an underpass of the Canadian National rail line located on Plessis Road north of the Dugald Road intersection.
In June 2012, Vic Toews, former federal Minister of Public Safety, Manitoba Transportation Minister Steve Ashton and Mayor Sam Katz, announced the Plessis Road Underpass project which will see the construction of twin rail bridges, the reconstruction and widening of Plessis Road (between Pandora Avenue and Dugald Road), a pump station and the construction of a shared cycling and pedestrian path connecting the existing facilities on Pandora Avenue and Dugald Road.
To accelerate construction and to stay on budget, Plessis Road will be closed between Dugald Road and Kernaghan Avenue until the end of 2014; local access will be maintained north of the rail line.
In order to keep Plessis Road open during the project, a temporary road to by-pass construction would have been needed, at an estimated overall cost to the project of 7 to 10 million dollars. The addition of a by-pass would also have extended the completion date of the underpass by about 18 months.
Motorists are encouraged to use alternate regional streets such as Regent Avenue West, Dugald Road, Ravenhurst Street and Lagimodiere Boulevard. Regional information signs have been erected at nearby major intersections, and traffic signal timings will be modified to improve the flow of traffic and encourage drivers to stay on the regional street system.
In addition, to address local traffic concerns during the construction, temporary traffic calming measures will be installed on Bournais Drive before the coming school year begins, and will remain in place throughout the closure of Plessis Road. The engineering and design of these measures will be developed over the coming weeks.
Winnipeg Transit routes 49 DUGALD and 87 SOUTH TRANSCONA will be re-routed during construction. Complete re-route details are available at winnipegtransit.com.
The project includes up to $25 million from the Government of Canada under the Building Canada Fund, up to $25 million from the Province of Manitoba and $27 million from the City of Winnipeg.
For more information, please visit City of Winnipeg - Plessis Road Underpass.