A working group looking at road construction in Winnipeg has released its recommendations on how the city can improve its methods, and it’s highlighting the use of 24/7 construction.

The group was established by Mayor Brian Bowman and chaired by Coun. Matt Allard. Members included industry and community stakeholders, such as the president of the Winnipeg Construction Association and the city’s director of public works.

“The question is ‘How are we going to explore its feasibility?’ That work is going to continue as a result of this,” Mayor Brian Bowman said.

The report said the 24/7 construction recommendation will only be incorporated where it’s deemed appropriate and will be a case-by-case basis.

“Each project has to be looked at with a specific view,” said Jeff Berezowsky, the city’s director of public works.

“We’re pretty restricted to places like Bishop Grandin like that and that’s where we do a lot of that night-time work,” Berezowsky said, referring to noise continuation during work.

The group met four times between May and July and focused on three main topics: improving communication with residents and businesses, aligning the construction tendering process and 24/7 road construction.

Bowman believes the collective recommendations will bring tangible improvements. He said he believes the multi-year budgeting with bring multi-year planning for construction to give residents more advanced notice of work.

“24/7 is not the silver bullet that some people think,” Chris Lorenc, president of Manitoba Heavy Construction Association said.

He believes all the recommendations need to be in pace to find the best efficiencies.

“There are a series of recommendations that will have the desired impact of reducing the period of construction interruption, reducing costs and minimizing the inconvenience of the motoring public.”

On Wednesday the group released its report, with recommendations that include:

  • Allowing contractors to work extended days and hours;
  • Incorporating 24/7 construction when appropriate;
  • Applying more effective traffic flow and lane closure methods to road projects;
  • Telling affected businesses and residents well in advance of upcoming road work;
  • Adopting a multi-year road construction program;
  • Awarding consulting construction a year before construction begins;
  • Introducing flexible contract administration and construction start dates;
  • Extending the early tendering process used for regional roads to the local road program;
  • Increasing the use of prequalified contractors and master service agreements;
  • Requesting provincial legislation to require owners of buried infrastructure in a public right of way to register those assets under a single registry.