Winnipeg, MB – The City of Winnipeg’s road construction season is set to get underway this May, with nearly 200 construction projects planned city-wide. In total, over 175 lane kilometers of improvements are scheduled this year, making for a smoother ride for residents in all areas of Winnipeg.
The road construction projects represent an investment of approximately $130 million in improvements to local and regional streets, back lanes, and sidewalks, and will assist in stimulating the struggling local economy during the COVID-19 pandemic and provide jobs for Winnipeggers.
“The health and well-being of Canadians remains our top priority as COVID-19 continues to have an unprecedented impact on people and economies across the country,” said the Honourable Catherine McKenna, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities. “We have invested in projects to help build our communities and efforts are being made to safely maintain transportation networks so residents can get where they are needed. We will get through this together.”
Road construction was deemed an essential service, and projects are expected to proceed as planned, with approximately 85 per cent of the projects tendered to date.
“Improvements to municipal infrastructure are a provincial priority, and these projects are an important step towards making the City of Winnipeg’s transportation infrastructure safer and more efficient for all residents,” said Manitoba Minister of Municipal Relations Rochelle Squires. “This project renews the regional street network to increase the flow of people and goods in and out of the city, which benefits residents, businesses and our economy.”
The City’s investment in regional and local road renewal this year reflects the full value of the two percent increase in property taxes. It also marks the second year of a five-year accelerated regional roads investment program jointly funded by the Government of Canada, the Province of Manitoba, and the City.
“The start of road construction season is always an exciting time because it signals the flow of capital funding dollars into our economy,” said Mayor Brian Bowman. “Against the backdrop of the global pandemic and the effect it has had on our economy, this is an especially important road construction season for jobs and our city’s economy.”
The governments of Canada and Manitoba are each contributing up to $100 million over five years for these projects under the New Building Canada Fund–Provincial-Territorial Infrastructure Component–National and Regional Projects. Work involves rebuilding and rehabilitating 49 segments of roadway across the city, including sidewalk repairs and drainage improvements. These enhancements will increase driver and pedestrian safety and improve transportation routes for businesses across the city.
Winnipeg’s road network is comprised of 7,300 lane kilometers and represents the City’s largest asset class, comprising almost half (42 percent) of the City’s total asset replacement value.
When planning and scheduling road construction projects each year, the City strives to reduce construction’s impact to traffic flow, businesses, and the general public.
To reduce the impact of construction, the City does permit some 24/7 construction when there is an identifiable benefit to the city and public. It is usually for tasks that need completing in succession and in short duration. The City also uses condensed or restricted construction schedules, and where appropriate includes accelerated completion incentives in construction contracts.
Due to COVID-19, the City is making every effort to notify residents and businesses that are affected by road construction work.
In addition, the City will be working with its contractors to implement best practices for infection prevention and control. This includes encouraging good handwashing and personal hygiene, ensuring the workplace equipment is cleaned and disinfected appropriately, promoting social distancing measures as practicable, and ensuring safe work procedures and personal protective equipment are being implemented as required.
This year’s road renewal budget includes portions of the following major reconstruction and rehabilitation projects that are part of the Accelerated Regional Street Renewal program partially funded by the Provincial and Federal Governments:
- 2019-2022 Archibald Pavement Renewal Project: Total project budget $15.75 million
- 2019-2023 Corydon/ Stafford/ Taylor Pavement Renewals Project: Total project budget $28.85 million
- 2019-2023 Downtown Road Renewals: Total project budget $32.8 million
- 2019-2023 Erin/Wall/Sargent Pavement Renewals Project: Total project budget $36.4 million
- Maryland Reconstruction Project: Total project budget $3.4 million
- 2019-2023 Munroe/Watt/Johnson Pavement Renewals Project: Total project budget $19.8 million
- 2019-2021 Roblin Boulevard Pavement Rehabilitation Project: Total project budget $8.85 million
Motorists are reminded to be mindful of crews working on roadways during the road construction season, plan their routes ahead, allow additional travel time, and to download and use Waze to find the fastest route.
For road construction information, including lane closures on major streets and an interactive map of construction projects, see: City of Winnipeg – Road Construction.