Winnipeg mayor asks for patience ahead of Portage and Main construction
Winnipeg's mayor is asking for patience from motorists during anticipated traffic delays at Portage and Main, as work begins to reopen the famed intersection.
According to the City of Winnipeg, sections of both roads’ curb and median lanes will be closed intermittently over the next four weeks as part of the pre-construction work.
These preparations will allow for major construction work to begin in mid-November.
"This will be short-term disruptions for the work that needs to be done," Mayor Scott Gillingham told reporters at Winnipeg City Hall on Tuesday.
"This is one of the reasons that I supported opening the intersection at grade rather than five years of construction delays at the intersection to repair the membrane."
In March, city council voted in favour of reopening Portage and Main to pedestrians. Mayor Scott Gillingham pushed to open the intersection for the first time since 1979 instead of footing the $73 million bill to fix a failing membrane protecting the underground concourse below.
Construction work at the intersection will include:
- Demolishing the barrier walls.
- Installing new traffic signals and streetlights.
- Adding a curb extension to the southeast corner.
- Repairing existing medians.
- Installing new curbs and sidewalks.
Work is expected to be completed in June 2025.
Meanwhile, Downtown Winnipeg BIZ CEO Kate Fenske told CTV News Winnipeg the organization is excited for the iconic intersection to reopen to pedestrians next summer.
"More street-level activity increases vibrancy and safety downtown and we look forward to seeing this project become a reality in 2025," she said in an e-mailed statement.
The city said it will provide construction staging details and traffic impacts before the start of construction next month.
More information can be found online.
- With files from CTV's Kayla Rosen and Michelle Gerwing
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Sparks fly as MPs question minister on pension implications of proposed election date change
Sparks flew at a parliamentary committee Thursday as MPs questioned Canada's democratic institutions minister about a widely opposed provision in electoral reform legislation that seeks to delay the next fixed election date by one week.
'There is no electricity': Canadian travellers in Cuba urge caution in hurricane's wake
Cuba's power grid was knocked out by Hurricane Rafael, which ripped across the country as a Category 3 storm. In western Cuba, it toppled buildings and pushed 50,000 people to find shelter elsewhere. Cubans were already enduring rolling blackouts due to energy shortages.
Three charged in One Direction singer Liam Payne's death
Three people have been charged in relation to One Direction singer Liam Payne's death in a fall from his Buenos Aires hotel balcony last month, Argentine authorities said on Thursday.
RCMP already 'on high alert' for potential wave of migrants after Trump election
Canada's federal police force has been preparing for months on a contingency plan for a potential massive influx of migrants across the border following Trump's promise of 'mass deportations' of millions of undocumented immigrants in the U.S.
'There was no stopping this baby from coming': Woman gives birth while aboard Newfoundland ferry
A young family from Codroy Valley, N.L., is happy to be on land and resting with their newborn daughter, Miley, after an overwhelming, yet exciting experience at sea.
Volkswagen models recalled for airbag safety precaution
Recall notices have been issued for some Volkswagen models from 2006 to 2019 for airbag safety issues.
America votes: How celebrities are reacting to Trump's decisive victory
Celebrities from Hulk Hogan to Ariana Grande are sharing their reactions to the U.S. election, which will see Donald Trump return to the White House.
3 Winnipeg police officers charged with breach of trust, theft
Three members of the Winnipeg Police Service have been charged with breach of trust, obstruction of justice and theft following a lengthy investigation
Canadian arrested in Florida for allegedly possessing child sex abuse content
A 25-year-old Canadian man was arrested in Florida last weekend after police say he was caught with child sex abuse content.