'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
LIVE B.C. seeks ban on using drugs in 'all public spaces,' shifting approach to decriminalization
The B.C. government is moving to have drug use banned in 'all public spaces,' marking a major shift in the province's approach to decriminalization.
Air traveller complaints to Canadian Transportation Agency hit new high
The Canadian Transportation Agency has hit a record high of more than 71,000 complaints in a backlog. The quasi-judicial regulator and tribunal tasked with settling disputes between customers and the airlines says the backlog is growing because the number of incoming complaints keeps increasing.
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.
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.
More than 115 cases of eye damage reported in Ontario after solar eclipse
More than 115 people who viewed the solar eclipse in Ontario earlier this month experienced eye damage after the event, according to eye doctors in the province.
U.S. flight attendant indicted in attempt to record teen girl in airplane bathroom
An American Airlines flight attendant was indicted Thursday after authorities said he tried to secretly record video of a 14-year-old girl using an airplane bathroom last September.
76ers All-Star centre Joel Embiid says he has Bell's palsy
Philadelphia 76ers All-Star centre Joel Embiid has been diagnosed with Bell’s palsy, a form of facial paralysis he says has affected him since before the play-in tournament.
AFN chief says Air Canada offered a 15% discount after her headdress was mishandled
After the Assembly of First Nations' national chief complained to Air Canada about how staffers treated her and her ceremonial headdress on a flight this week, she says the airline responded by offering a 15 per cent discount on her next flight.
Trump's lawyers try to discredit testimony of prosecution's first witness in hush money trial
Donald Trump's defence team attacked the credibility Friday of the prosecution's first witness in his hush money case, seeking to discredit testimony detailing a scheme between Trump and a tabloid to bury negative stories to protect the Republican's 2016 presidential campaign.