Manitoba government investing $115 million to improve area highways and bridges

A small crowd, including several Glenboro South-Cypress Council members, Darren Myers, CAO, and interested community members, gathered to listen firsthand to the much-touted announcement taking place in Glenboro, at the small park hosting Sara the Camel.

Also in attendance were Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew, the Honourable Glen Simard – Brandon East, Minister of Municipal and Northern Relations, the Honourable Lisa Naylor – Wolseley, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure, and Charles Radford – Mayor, RM of Glenboro South – Cypress.

Glen Simard began the event with a brief introduction, sharing the concerted outreach that all the Ministers and the Premier have done with rural Manitobans, before noting the many investments being made in multiple projects across Manitoba.

Glen then introduced the Premier of Manitoba, Wab Kinew, who welcomed everyone, before announcing “more than $115 million in road and bridge repairs for Hwy 2, Hwy 5 and Hwy 34. So this is all about making sure that Manitobans, especially folks who live in rural communities, have a good quality of life, are safe as you lead those good lives and are proud of this province that we all love so much. Now we know that in rural Manitoba people often spend a lot of time on the road, and I can tell you from first-hand experience that some of the roads nearby here could use some more attention.” (The vehicle the Premier was a passenger in took the Hwy 5 north route to Glenboro).

Lisa Naylor reiterated the benefits of the announced improvements to the local highways, highlighting not only the safety of those on these local highways, but also the economic benefits that will come from the rehabilitated highways and bridge replacements designated under this announcement, going on to share that this $115 million “is all part of our historic $2.7 billion investment to build Manitoba and create thousands of good jobs right here at home.”

Charles Radford, Mayor of Glenboro South-Cypress, shared an overview with the gathered crowd regarding what this announcement means to the municipality and the surrounding areas, as well as the benefits that will be realized from the highway upgrades.

The announced investment details are impressive:

* rehabilitation of 15 kilometres of PTH 5 north of PTH 2 that will eventually lift restrictions and increase allowable axle weights during the spring thaw;

* grading repairs on PTH 34, where a temporary guardrail and reduced speed limit has been installed to improve safety;

* two bridges will also be replaced, one at PTH 34, north of Holland and the other at Spruce Woods Park;

* $5 million for intersection improvements on Hwy 2 at PTH 13;

* $35.7 million on surface rehabilitation of highway 2 for 25 km between PR240 and PTH13;

* $3 million on structure rehabilitation for design on Highway 2 at the Souris River.

After wrapping up the announcements, we were able to speak with several of the attendees, all of whom were pleased to hear that the road improvements would be moving forward. One woman said she couldn’t wait to have Hwy 5 fixed, “you take your life in your hands when you drive down that highway. It scares me at night when I am trying to watch for road issues and deer crossing in front of me. It stresses me out.”

RM of Glenboro South-Cypress Councillor Dale Fisher has been very vocal about the need for attention to be paid to the crumbling highways around Glenboro. We asked Dale how he felt about the announcement. “The announced improvements are long overdue. The best thing that could have happened (and did happen) was the vehicle carrying the Premier came to Glenboro down Highway 5 north, causing the Premier to comment, that the rehabilitation of Hwy 5 is long overdue.” Dale went on to say, “although I was hoping for the tendering to go to at least Sand Hills Casino, or further, it is a great start, and we will take it with open arms. I am so glad they are paying attention to many of the problem areas in Westman that require rehabilitation, refurbishment and in some cases, replacement.”

PHOTO CAPTION: Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew (centre), Minister of Municipal and Northern Relations Glen Simard (left) and Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Lisa Naylor were in Glenboro to announce several upgrades to road surfaces and major bridges planned for area highways. PHOTO BY SUZANNE PADDOCK