'It's very frustrating': Exchange District businesses upset over surprise road closure
The surprise closure of an Exchange District street has business owners looking for answers on why they weren't given any notice.
Fleet Galleries owner Jeff Gasenzer was surprised to see construction signs go up in front of his store on Friday.
Listed on the City of Winnipeg's map of lane closures as a complete closure, the city said a contractor is doing private work on the stretch of Albert Street and McDermot Avenue.
"I never heard a thing, and they never came to say how long it's going to be so I could at least inform my clients," said Gasenzer.
Across the street, Plant Lab Botanical Design said they weren't notified about the construction either.
"Knowing I'm going into weekend business and the setup is very detrimental to walk-in and drive-by traffic, it's very frustrating," said owner Krystle Pagkalinawan.
Pagkalinawan said she holds markets in the vacant storefront next door on Saturdays but had to cancel it after vendors pulled out due to the construction.
According to the City of Winnipeg's manual of temporary traffic control, contractors conducting lane closures must contact neighbouring properties three business days in advance if access is affected.
"Please note that it was originally anticipated that some through traffic would be permitted during the construction work (not a full road closure); however, the contractor encountered safety issues that necessitated a full closure of the roadway until it could address the issue," read part of a statement from the City of Winnipeg.
As outlined in the manual of temporary traffic control, in emergency situations that threaten public safety or are a public hazard, the contractor is authorized to eliminate the public hazard immediately.
Janice Lukes, the committee chair of public works, said efforts must be made to support businesses in Winnipeg's downtown.
"It's really important to make sure all these avenues understand that downtown is a priority and ensure the proper avenues are in place," she said. "To ensure proper signage is up, to ensure proper notification has occurred. Pedestrians and cyclists have proper wayfinding when streets are closed."
The construction was originally scheduled to finish on April 1, but an update from the City of Winnipeg Monday afternoon says it will finish on March 24.
The City of Winnipeg noted traffic will also be let through the zone during the morning and afternoon rush hour starting March 21.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Live updates as Stormy Daniels testifies at Trump hush money trial
Adult film star Stormy Daniels is on the stand a second time Thursday as former U.S. president Donald Trump’s hush money case continues in Manhattan. Follow live updates here.
BREAKING Sheldon Keefe out as head coach of Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs have fired head coach Sheldon Keefe. The team made the announcement Thursday after the Original Six franchise lost to the Boston Bruins in seven games in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Bank of Canada says financial system is stable, but risks remain
The Bank of Canada says the Canadian financial system is stable, but risks remain due to debt servicing costs among households and businesses and stretched valuations of financial assets.
Here are the ultraprocessed foods you most need to avoid, according to a 30-year study
Studies have shown that ultraprocessed foods can have a detrimental impact on health. But 30 years of research show they don’t all have the same impact.
Ontario man frustrated after $3,500 paving job leaves driveway in shambles
An Ontario man considering having his driveway paved received a quote from a company for $7,000, but then, another paver in the neighbourhood knocked on his door and offered half that rate.
Why these immigrants to Canada say they're thinking about leaving, or have already moved on
For some immigrants, their dreams of permanently settling in Canada have taken an unexpected twist.
RateMDs violates privacy of health professionals, class-action lawsuit claims
A lawsuit against RateMDs has been given the go-ahead by a B.C. Supreme Court judge who found the claim that the website violates the privacy rights of medical professionals is not 'bound to fail.'
Boeing 737 catches fire and skids off the runway at a Senegal airport, injuring 10 people
A Boeing 737-300 plane carrying 85 people skidded off a runway at the airport in Dakar, Senegal's capital, injuring 10 people, according to the transport minister, an airline safety group and footage from a passenger that showed the aircraft on fire.
Capital gains tax change 'shortsighted' and 'sows division' business groups tell Freeland
Forging ahead with increasing Canada's capital gains inclusion rate 'sows division,' and is a 'shortsighted' way to improve the deficit, business groups are warning Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland.