City planning 200 projects this year, leading to longer-lasting roads
You don't have to tell Jubilee Avenue homeowner John Haynes road construction season is in full swing.
The stretch of Jubilee Avenue near his house is undergoing major surgery, causing some disruptions.
“Very noisy, very noisy – lots of traffic backups," said Haynes
The crews are digging down deep to overhaul the road. Haynes said the inconvenience is worth it to fix all of the streets in disrepair.
"They're in very bad shape, every neighbourhood I go to is very, very bad," he said.
With financial help from the federal and provincial governments, the City of Winnipeg has planned 200 projects this year worth $165 million, totalling 175 kilometres of lanes.
On top of this, the final products might last longer.
"In addition to making the investments, we want to make sure that we're getting the value for those investments," said Winnipeg Mayor Brian Bowman.
Because of work in a lab at the University of Manitoba, the city said the lifecycle of roads has increased by 15 per cent.
Civil Engineering Professor Ahmed Shalaby said his group has been fine-tuning the materials used to give roads two more years of use.
“Compared to specifications of the City of Winnipeg about five or ten years ago, we're using now materials that are stronger and drain better,” said Shalaby.
Shalaby said this might cost more upfront, but it saves money down the road.
"It's only for one or two years, after which price comes down, and then we get the benefit of the longer service life," said Shalaby.
He said his group is also experimenting with the ability to pave in cold climate, to push construction season a couple more weeks in November.
John Haynes would like to see the lives of streets stretched out so fewer repairs are needed.
"Because less construction would be better," Haynes said. "We're known for three seasons and one is construction (season) and that's no good."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING King Charles' cancer treatment progressing well, says Buckingham Palace
King Charles III’s doctors are 'sufficiently pleased' with his cancer treatment and he is expected to return to public-facing duties, Buckingham Palace announced on Friday.
BREAKING Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
'Unacceptable': Trudeau reacts after AFN chief says headdress taken from plane cabin
After the Assembly of First Nations' national chief said her headdress was taken from an airplane cabin this week, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called the incident 'unacceptable' and a 'mistake' on the part of Air Canada.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
From faulty kids' cribs to flammable kids' bathrobes, here are the recalls of the week
Health Canada issued recalls for various items this week, including kids’ bathrobes, cribs and henna cones.
Taylor Swift dons Montreal designer's dress in 'Fortnight' video
A pair of Montreal designers' work has now been viewed over 41 million times. Taylor Swift dons a Victorian throwback black gown in her latest music video, 'Fortnight', designed by UNTTLD due Simon Belanger and Jose Manuel Saint-Jacques.
'Too young to have breast cancer': Rates among young Canadian women rising
Breast cancer rates are rising in Canada among women in their 20s, 30s and 40s, according to research by the University of Ottawa (uOttawa).
'Violation': CSIS had officer investigated after she reported a superior raped her
A CSIS officer's allegations that she was raped repeatedly by a superior in agency vehicles set off a harassment inquiry, but also triggered an investigation into her that concluded the alleged attacks were a “misuse” of agency vehicles by the woman.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.