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
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
'Tactical evacuations' underway near Fort Nelson, B.C., as wildfires encroach
The BC Wildfire Service says 'tactical evacuations' began Friday near Fort Nelson, B.C., due to an out-of-control wildfire that has grown rapidly since it was discovered earlier in the afternoon.
Snowbirds in Vancouver for puck-drop flyby as Canucks face Oilers
The Canadian Forces Snowbirds will be performing a flyover across downtown Vancouver at the start of tonight's Stanley Cup playoff game between the Canucks and the Edmonton Oilers.
McGill University seeks emergency injunction to dismantle pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
Video shows naked raccoon catching B.C. family by surprise
When Marvin Henschel spotted a strange and hairless creature wandering through a front lawn in B.C.'s Lower Mainland, he could barely believe his eyes.
Barron Trump declines to serve as an RNC delegate
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, has declined to serve as a delegate at this summer’s Republican National Convention, according to a senior Trump campaign adviser and a statement from Melania Trump's office.
Out-of-control wildfire prompts evacuation alert for Fort McMurray, Saprae Creek Estates Friday night
An evacuation alert was issued for two Wood Buffalo communities Friday night, as crews battled an out-of-control wildfire near Fort McMurray.