Winnipeg, MB – A weeklong full closure of Portage Avenue East in both directions will start Tuesday, November 12.
A portion of the roadway will reopen to accommodate the annual Santa Claus Parade on November 16.
The full closure is part of pre-construction traffic signals work at the intersection. Local access to the Fairmont Hotel and surrounding surface lots will be maintained via Lombard Street.
The closure will accommodate underground work to help prepare for demolition of the concrete barricades and other major construction.
We will release further construction staging details and associated traffic impacts prior to the anticipated major construction start.
As previously released:
Work anticipated to start in November will significantly change operation of the intersection to facilitate the safe movement of pedestrians, vehicles, and cyclists through the intersection. It includes:
- Demolishing and removing the existing barrier walls
- Installing new traffic signals and streetlights
- Adding a curb extension on the southeast corner to allow for shorter pedestrian crossing distance across Portage Avenue and more pedestrian space at the corner
- Repairing and adjusting existing medians
- Installing new curbs and sidewalks throughout the intersection to accommodate pedestrian crossings on all four corners of the intersection
Work is anticipated to be substantially complete by June 20, 2025, and fully completed by June 27, 2025.
This will facilitate the subsequent launch of Winnipeg Transit’s new Primary Transit Network on June 29, 2025. The at-grade pedestrian crossing is expected to open by July 1, 2025.
Future phases of street-level redevelopment at Portage & Main
In March 2024, Council approved the recommended design vision for the Portage & Main intersection, with the addition that it include street-level pedestrian crossings.
Additional design work at the intersection will be included in the upcoming Rapid Transit (Downtown Corridors) Preliminary Design Study, expected to begin in 2025.
This study will integrate Winnipeg Transit infrastructure into the final design of the intersection for Council’s consideration of the project and budget.
Additional information
For more information about Portage & Main redevelopment, please visit: winnipeg.ca/portageandmain.