Winnipeg, MB - Beginning today, Transcona drivers will have an easier time traveling within the community following the completion of the new Transcona Boulevard. Mayor Brian Bowman and Transcona Councillor Russ Wyatt officially opened the City of Winnipeg funded street at a ribbon cutting ceremony this morning.
The new street will provide improved east-west connections in Transcona, extending from Kildare Avenue (at Plessis Road) through the old City of Winnipeg Public Works yard and connecting with Peguis St.
“I am pleased to join Councillor Wyatt in opening this long needed street for the community of Transcona,” said Mayor Brian Bowman. “This type of infrastructure improvement is critical as we continue to build a modern, thriving city.”
“As Transcona continues to grow, it was becoming more evident that improved infrastructure was needed,” said Councillor Russ Wyatt. “The new Transcona Boulevard will provide residents with better connection to Winnipeg’s downtown, the nearby Concordia Hospital and has opened up West Transcona for future growth and development.”
As an added benefit, both Transcona Blvd. and Peguis Street (which was fully paved this summer) now have one of the longest LED overhead street light systems in the City, which will save the City of Winnipeg in hydro-electricity expenses.
“Manitoba Hydro was pleased to partner with the City of Winnipeg to make Transcona Boulevard one of the first streets in Winnipeg to use these new LED High Pressure Sodium streetlights,” said Larry Vickar, Board Member of Manitoba Hydro. “These new LED lights have a much longer life expectancy, use significantly less energy, perform better in cold weather and improve the quality of light for drivers and pedestrians.”
“The new Transcona Boulevard will now allow easier access to all areas of Transcona, providing an opportunity for further residential development to keep up with the communities growth,” said Rick Purling, President of Transcona BIZ.
Along with the construction of a new parking lot next spring to accommodate those using the Transcona Trail, additional future project plans include connecting Bienvenue Street to Transcona Boulevard, the addition of new sidewalks and landscaping, and of course the City Council approved new Transcona Library, which will be built at the corner of Transcona Blvd. and Plessis Road. The library site will be designed in a way that allows for the potential future addition of an indoor recreational facility such as a YMCA-YWCA.
The construction of Transcona Blvd. is part of the Transcona West Road Enhancement Project. Nearly 400 acres in Transcona have been earmarked for development by Genstar Development Company and Waterside Development Corp. The multi-phase developments will include single-family and multi-family housing to accommodate new residents moving into the community and retiring residents wishing to stay.
This road construction represents the first stage of the development of Transcona Blvd. and Peguis St, with the twinning of both roads being completed through developer obligations as development proceeds.