Pembina Highway Underpass Study FAQ
This study is now complete.
For more information please visit the Southwest Transitway website.
This investment by Council will improve a critical component of Winnipeg's transportation infrastructure and make it more accessible to alternate means of transport.
The proposed upgrading options being considered for the Pembina Highway Underpass will improve traffic flows between Point Road and Stafford Avenue. There are currently three lanes southbound and only two lanes northbound on Pembina Highway. The upgrade will provide a third northbound traffic lane.
Pedestrian and cycle access at the Pembina Underpass is poor. The upgrade will improve pedestrian and cyclist facilities on Pembina Highway between Jubilee Avenue and Stafford Avenue by providing dedicated pedestrian/cycle corridors on both sides the underpass.
The underpass has experienced severe flooding during heavy rain storms. Upgrading will improve land drainage at the underpass.
The underpass will have dedicated pedestrian/cycle pathways on both sides of Pembina Highway. The west pedestrian/cyclist pathway will include a tunnel constructed under the existing Jubilee Overpass ramps on the southwest corner of the Jubilee Overpass interchange providing unobstructed pedestrian and cyclist movement along the west side of Pembina Highway within the underpass area.
A third traffic lane will be constructed northbound through the underpass. Also, the northbound left turn lanes at Stafford Avenue will be extended. Both measures will reduce traffic congestion on Pembina Highway at the Jubilee and Stafford Intersections.
The construction schedule has not been set. Construction scheduling will be determined during the detailed design stage of engineering that will follow the current preliminary engineering study.
In 2010 the Jubilee Overpass structure was rehabilitated as part of its regular maintenance. Work for that project was limited to improvements to the structure and connecting roadways. The work was undertaken and completed during one construction season.
The scope of the Pembina Highway Underpass Study is much broader. It involves improvements to vehicle, cyclist, and pedestrian movements between Point Road and Stafford Avenue, upgrades to the underpass land drainage system, and modifications to accommodate the future extension of theSouthwest Transitway across Pembina Highway.
A roadway traffic volume analysis determined that two lanes northbound and two lanes southbound on Pembina Highway will maintain traffic movements at acceptable levels during construction. Some delays are expected during construction as a result of slower traffic speed and potential lane realignments. Construction should not significantly impact northbound traffic as the phasing plan maintains two lanes of northbound traffic during construction, which is no change from the existing situation. Southbound traffic may experience delays with the reduction to two lanes (from three) during construction, though still within acceptable standards of time and speed.
The Pembina Underpass Upgrading Study includes planning for a Pembina Highway bridge crossing for the future extension of the Southwest Transitway. There is no decision at this time about the route the Southwest Transitway will take after it crosses Pembina Highway.