‘It’s so much faster’: potential opening of Raleigh Street link draws traction

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This article was published 09/08/2023 (814 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Barricades intended to keep general traffic off a controversial road link to Winnipeg need to be scrapped for good to allow a more efficient route and reduce some safety concerns, some East St. Paul residents say.

In early July, someone removed the wooden barricades from the Raleigh Street “through-pass” under the northeast Perimeter Highway.

The route in the Rural Municipality of East St. Paul is owned by the province and reserved for pedestrians, cyclists and emergency vehicles, with a City of Winnipeg boundary on Raleigh located just south of it.

While the new access sparked some concerns about traffic and noise, other nearby residents say the road should be open to all vehicles permanently.

“I think it gives an access to a point of the city where East St. Paul residents will (go) no matter what… This provides a much more direct road, where I’m avoiding residential routes in North Kildonan,” said Kristyn Ball, an East St. Paul resident.

Ball said having the route accessible to cars shaves several minutes off trips to sports facilities in North Kildonan and shortens the drive for those attending school in Winnipeg.

“It’s so much faster. It’s baffling to me (that this isn’t open) because I feel like it’s way less intrusive on the neighbourhood,” said Ball, noting the route allows her to avoid a significant amount of driving on residential roads in Winnipeg.

Several residents report barricades and signs meant to mark the Raleigh Street restrictions have been repeatedly removed and vandalized, which has allowed drivers to pass through on many occasions.

Ball said restricting travel on the route leaves it isolated more often, making graffiti and loitering more common.

“(That) makes it feel unsafe for cyclists, for pedestrians who use that path. I think just having that visibility, having frequent traffic there just kind of deters that behaviour.”

East St. Paul resident Navi Kalar said the thick sides of the structure cut off sight lines, so having more vehicles pass through should help prevent vandalism and crime.

“When the barricades are there, there’s no traffic, so people don’t see as many people coming in and coming out,” said Kalar, adding closing the road to vehicles also creates an odd divide in the community.

“The access point, it just bridges two communities together, instead of segregating East St. Paul and North Kildonan from one another.”

Meantime, others — including the area’s Winnipeg city councillor — argue the province must honour the original plan to exclude general traffic from the route.

“When they built it, the intention was not to have it open to regular traffic. Unless… circumstances have changed, it should be closed,” said Coun. Jeff Browaty (North Kildonan).

Public consultation, traffic studies, and potential infrastructure improvements should take place before any permanent change is made to the route, Browaty said.

He’d also like RM officials to guarantee it won’t add new multi-family development south of Mulder Road before any such change is considered, since traffic from East St. Paul currently has just one permanent connection to Lagimodiere Boulevard.

“If it were to open tomorrow, I don’t believe it would cause traffic chaos. But once it’s opened, I’d say it would (wind up being) open formally and permanently. I’d consider that, but only if a number of things were done to mitigate potential future impacts,” said Browaty.

He stressed none of the costs to prepare for a full opening of the route should be covered by Winnipeg taxpayers.

Victor Mikolayenko, who lives near the route on the Winnipeg side, said he understands the desire to use it for short trips, but still fears a permanent opening would significantly increase traffic.

“There are no arterial or regional streets here, and we don’t want this to be a regional street,” said Mikolayenko.

In an emailed statement, a provincial spokesperson said the Raleigh Street connection remains limited to emergency vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists — even when barricades are absent.

“Barricades continue to be subjected to frequent vandalism and theft. Therefore, barricades may or may not be present at any given time, however, staff continue to replace the barricades as soon as possible. Removal of barricades is subject to penalty under the Highway Traffic Act,” the statement says.

“Manitoba Transportation and Infrastructure is committed to continuing to work and consult with the community and the City of Winnipeg… and are looking at interim solutions including increased signage in the area.”

The province said other concerns related to the route, which opened in 2018, require further discussion between governments.

East St. Paul Mayor Carla Devlin could not be reached for comment.

joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @joyanne_pursaga