Most people complain about the snow -- not Ray Benoit.
The St. Vital man says when the snow melts, his gravel back lane is in such bad shape, the potholes are difficult to navigate.
"You're trying to drive your vehicle, and at the slowest speed, even 10 km an hour, you're bouncing around and the front ends are just getting beat to hell," he said.
So, Benoit decided to do something about it.
The city will split the cost of asphalting gravel back lanes with homeowners, as long as 60 per cent of the street agrees. Benoit was able to get 65 per cent of his neighbours on board.
"Elated, I'm absolutely elated," said Benoit
When the program began in 2013, Winnipeg had 87 kilometers of gravel back lanes. That number is being chipped away -- 22 lanes have been completed or are in the works, with five more approved for 2016.
St. Vital Councillor Brian Mayes says the asphalt lanes improve drainage.
"It's helping our aging infrastructure, where people are paying, but they're paying for something they can literally see the results of, it's right there out in their back yard," said Mayes.
The initiative has its downside. Each homeowner on the street, even those who oppose their lane being paved, must pay $4,000 extra on their property tax bill.
Crystal Desrosiers is in that boat. Her driveway faces the street not the back lane, so she doesn’t use the alley. She worries people will speed down her lane once it's smoother and she says her family could use the $4,000 for more pressing needs.
"We have three kids, and we just built a house,” said Desrosiers.
Homeowners can pay a lump sum up front or over 10 years.
