Permanent changes to infrastructure are an effective way to make roads safer. But they can be expensive. They can also take a long time to design and build.
Quick-build methods are an alternative to calm traffic quickly.
2025 quick-build program
This year, traffic calming curbs will help us quickly change the road at locations with safety issues.
These curbs are a fast and effective way of changing the roadway layout to:
- Reduce safety risks
- Slow vehicle speeds
- Minimize conflict between pedestrians, cyclists, and vehicles
- Make it safer for all road users
Curbs temporarily change roadways until we have budget to install permanent traffic calming. This usually happens when a road is up for renewal or reconstruction.
The curbs are made of yellow concrete, which makes them more visible than standard road material.
They’re 2.4 metres long and weigh 2,000 pounds – that’s about the same as a bison.
Because of their size and weight, they are durable enough to withstand Winnipeg’s snowy winters.
We are installing traffic calming curbs:
- Near schools
- Where multiuse paths cross a street
- In dense residential areas
We chose locations based on existing safety concerns like:
- Known speeding issues
- Intersections with wide corners
- Crosswalks with poor visibility
2025 locations
View details about each location, including type of safety measure and an aerial overview of the installation.
Installation type: Pedestrian island
Installation timeline: Complete
Description:
This multi-use path crossing is frequented by cyclists and pedestrians. We are installing two curbs along the median.
This will:
- Narrow the roadway to naturally support lower driving speeds and reduce speeding
- Provide more signage to make the crossing location easier to see
- Create a two-stage crossing for pedestrians and cyclists
More information:
- There will be no parking impacts
Installation type: Curb bump out and corner radius reduction
Installation timeline: Complete
Description:
This intersection is very wide, with a wide corner. We will install:
- A curb bump-out on the north side of Cathedrale, east of the crosswalk
- A corner radius reduction on the south side of Cathedrale
Together, this will:
- Shorten the crossing distance
- Ensure vehicles don’t park too close to the crosswalk
- Make the crosswalk easier to see
- Lower driving speeds for turning vehicles
- Narrow the roadway to naturally support lower driving speeds and reduce speeding
More information:
- Artists from within the community will paint the curbs and street. This enhances visibility and beautifies the neighbourhood.
- We will remove two parking spaces on the north side of Cathedrale Avenue at Aulneau.
Installation type: New crosswalk with curb bump out
Installation timeline: Complete
Description:
We are installing a new crosswalk with a curb bump-out on Wellington Avenue at Banning Street, along the neighbourhood greenway.
This will:
- Shorten the crossing distance
- Ensure vehicles don’t park too close to the crosswalk
- Make the crosswalk easier to see
- Narrow the roadway to naturally support lower driving speeds and reduce speeding
More information:
- Artists from within the community will paint the curbs and street. This enhances visibility and beautifies the neighbourhood.
- This is a new school crosswalk. The crosswalk will help children get to school safely.
- We will install a new no-stopping area and remove two parking spaces on the north side of Wellington east of Banning.
Traffic calming curbs are one of the measures being used in the Cambridge Traffic Calming Project for the following locations:
- Cambridge St between Corydon and Mulvey
- Cambridge St at Mulvey Ave
- Cambridge St between Fleet Ave and Lorette Ave
- Cambridge St at Lorette Ave
Installation type: Curb bump outs
Installation timeline: Complete
Description:
We will install two curb bump-outs: one on either side of the school crosswalk on Chancellor Drive, near Island Lakes Crescent. They will create a curve in the road, called a chicane.
The bump outs will:
- Shorten the crossing distance
- Narrow the roadway to naturally support lower driving speeds and reduce speeding
- Ensure vehicles don’t park too close to the crosswalk
- Make the crosswalk easier to see
More information:
- This is in a school zone with a 30 km/h speed limit. The bump outs will support drivers in going the speed limit, and make it safer for children on the way to and from school.
- There are no parking impacts.
Installation type: Curb bump out
Installation timeline: Complete
Description:
We will install traffic calming curbs on the west side of Watt Street south of the school crosswalk at Hazel Dell Avenue.
The bump out will:
- Shorten the crossing distance
- Narrow the roadway to naturally support lower driving speeds and reduce speeding
- Ensure vehicles don’t park too close to the crosswalk
- Make the crosswalk easier to see
More information:
- Artists from within the community will paint the curbs and street. This enhances visibility and beautifies the neighbourhood.
- There is a daycare on this corner and an elementary school at the end of the block. The bump-out will make it safer for young children crossing the street.
- There are no parking impacts.
Installation type: Pedestrian island
Installation timeline: Complete
Description:
This multi-use path crossing is frequently used by cyclists and pedestrians. We are installing traffic calming curbs in the median at the crossing to create a pedestrian island.
This will:
- Narrow the roadway to naturally support lower driving speeds and reduce speeding
- Provide more signage to make the crossing location easier to see
- Create a two-stage crossing for pedestrians and cyclists
More information:
- There are no parking impacts.
Installation type: Curb bump outs
Installation timeline: Complete
Description:
This multi-use path is frequently used by cyclists and pedestrians. It crosses Redonda Street, which has wide vehicle lanes. We will place curbs on both sides of the road on either side of the crossing.
This will:
- Shorten the crossing distance
- Ensure vehicles don’t park too close to the crosswalk
- Make the crossing easier to see
- Narrow the roadway to naturally support lower driving speeds and reduce speeding
More information:
- This is in a school zone with a 30 km/h speed limit. The bump outs will support drivers in going the speed limit and make it safer for children on the way to and from school.
- We will remove one off-peak parking space.
Installation type: Curb bump out
Installation timeline: Anticipated installation in 2026
Description:
We will install a curb bump out on the north side of River Avenue, at the school crosswalk.
This will:
- Shorten the crossing distance
- Ensure vehicles don’t park too close to the crosswalk
- Make the crosswalk easier to see
- Narrow the roadway to naturally support lower driving speeds and reduce speeding
More information:
- This is a school zone with a 30 km/h speed limit. The bump outs will support driving the speed limit and make it safer for children on the way to and from school.
- There are no parking impacts.
Installation type: Pedestrian island
Installation timeline: Complete
Description:
We will place two traffic calming curbs along the median at the school crosswalk on Templeton Avenue at Novara Drive.
This will:
- Narrow the roadway to naturally support lower driving speeds and reduce speeding
- Provide more signage to make the crossing location easier to see
- Create a two-stage crossing for pedestrians and cyclists
More information:
- This is a school zone with a 30 km/h speed limit. The median curbs will support drivers in going the speed limit, and make it safer for children on the way to and from school.
- We will remove two to three parking spaces on the north side of Templeton Avenue. This will provide better visibility of the school crosswalk.
Installation type: Pedestrian island
Installation timeline: Complete
Description:
We will install two traffic calming curbs along the median at the school crosswalk on Templeton Avenue at Numeracy Lane.
This will:
- Narrow the roadway to naturally support lower driving speeds and reduce speeding
- Provide more signage to make the crossing location easier to see
- Create a two-stage crossing for pedestrians and cyclists
More information:
- This is a school zone with a 30 km/h speed limit. The median curbs will support drivers in going the speed limit, and make it safer for children on the way to and from school.
- There are no parking impacts.
Installation type: Pedestrian island
Installation timeline: Complete
Description:
We will place two traffic calming curbs along the median at the school crosswalk on Templeton Avenue at Pennyhill Gate.
This will:
- Narrow the roadway to naturally support lower driving speeds and reduce speeding
- Provide additional signage to make the crossing location easier to see
- Create a two-stage crossing for pedestrians and cyclists
More information:
- This is a school zone with a 30 km/h speed limit. The median curbs will support drivers in going the speed limit, and make it safer for children on the way to and from school.
- There are no parking impacts.
Installation type: Pedestrian island
Installation timeline: Complete
Description:
We will place two traffic calming curbs along the median at the school crosswalk on Templeton Avenue near Thorn Drive. This will:
- Narrow the roadway to naturally support lower driving speeds and reduce speeding
- Provide more signage to make the crossing location easier to see
- Create a two-stage crossing for pedestrians and cyclists
More information:
- This is a school zone with a 30 km/h speed limit. The median curbs will support drivers in going the speed limit, and make it safer for children on the way to and from school.
- We will remove two parking spaces on the north side of Templeton Avenue and two parking spaces on the south side. This will provide better visibility of the school crosswalk.
Curb designs
Pedestrian islands
- Provides a location in the middle of a wide road for pedestrians or cyclists to stop and make a two-stage crossing
- Slows vehicles
- Makes the crossing location more visible to drivers
Corner radius reductions
- Makes a corner tighter so vehicles turn at a lower speed
- Reduces the risk of pedestrian-vehicle collisions
Curb bump outs
- Shortens the crossing distance for pedestrians, slow vehicle speeds, and make pedestrians more visible at a crossing
- These are sometimes used in pairs to create a curve, called a chicane, in the road
Road narrowing
- Adds a median and curb bump out to make the road less wide
- Slows vehicles
Timeline
Location selection and preliminary design
January 2025
Procurement process begins for the curbs
February 2025
Location design and technical drawings
March – June 2025
Community outreach events and mural design
June 2025
Anticipated installation
August 2025
Ongoing monitoring and evaluation of safety benefits begins
September 2025
Assessment of winter and spring maintenance and operational impacts
January – April 2026
Project review and assessment for future installations
April 2026