Portage and Main transformation on track, council told

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This article was published 09/01/2025 (297 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Good weather and light traffic has kept the early stage of construction to reopen Portage and Main to pedestrians on schedule, city council was told Thursday.

The public works committee got an update from department director Jim Berezowsky, who said the target July 2025 opening of the historic intersection — closed to foot traffic since 1979 — is within sight, with minimal disruption to drivers so far, despite having to close some lanes.

“If anybody’s been at the intersection, you can see the barriers are coming down, street lighting and signals are being removed, temporary street lighting and signals are being installed at multiple locations,” he said.

“And the one thing that was probably the biggest concern from the committee at the time was the traffic-management plan and, to date, based on what we’re getting for feedback, it’s been relatively positive.”

Public works chairperson Janice Lukes said she was thankful things are moving smoothly and people have heeded warnings about the lane closures, allowing them to avoid traffic jams.

“People are finding other routes, and maybe everyone’s not back at work yet, I don’t know, and maybe the traffic-management signs and setup that they’ve got there are working,” she said.

fpcity@freepress.mb.ca