Winnipeg, MB – The bypass system built on the Fort Garry Bridge to direct sewage across the Red River to the South End Sewage Treatment Plant is now fully operational. The last spill ended at 12:13 a.m. on Wednesday, February 21. Residents in southwest Winnipeg are no longer asked to reduce their water usage.
“Using less water for day-to-day activities is always beneficial, and I especially want to thank residents for their cooperation over the last few days in reducing their water consumption,” said Tim Shanks, Director of Water and Waste. “I also want to thank the crews and contractors, including divers, engineers, repair teams, and operational staff, who worked on addressing the leak and on building the bypass system. It’s incredibly difficult work when you can’t turn things off to troubleshoot issues. They’ve been working hard to get the job done as quickly as possible.”
Crews will be continuously monitoring the bypass system going forward, making adjustments, as necessary, to ensure it’s reliable. It’s expected the bypass system will be in place until the river crossing pipes that failed can be replaced. Work to replace the pipes will begin right away, with construction continuing in 2025.
Motorists can expect reduced speed limits on the Fort Garry Bridge, while the bypass system is in place, from 80 km/h down to 60 km/h. Both eastbound lanes are open; however, the lane widths are narrower. Intermittent lane closures may be required for various maintenance activities. In such cases, every effort will be made to ensure the lane closures occur during off-peak times, if possible. Motorists are advised to exercise caution while driving through the area.