Portage and Main reopening on track, on budget: city staff

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This article was published 04/03/2025 (241 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The reopening of Portage and Main to pedestrians remains on schedule and within the current budget, city staff told Winnipeg’s public works committee Tuesday.

The city expects to reopen the intersection to foot traffic by July 1 to coincide with the launch of an overhauled Winnipeg Transit network.

Boarding has gone up at all four corners of Portage Avenue and Main Street while work continues on street, curb and sidewalk construction, and utilities. A staircase at the southeast corner, leading to an underground concourse, is being closed off.

Lane closures remain in effect.

The intersection has been closed to foot traffic since 1979. Council approved the reopening in an 11-3 vote in March 2024, after a staff report found it would cost $73 million and cause up to five years of construction-related traffic disruption to replace a waterproof membrane that protects a pedestrian concourse beneath the intersection.

The project’s cost increased to $21 million in November, a month before construction officially began. Crews finished removing the intersection’s concrete barricades in mid-February.

The city is looking at options to close the concourse, but has not yet set a date to do so.

Meanwhile, at Tuesday’s meeting, the public works committee approved a proposal to conduct an independent “value for money” assessment of extending Chief Peguis Trail in north Winnipeg. The assessment requires council approval before the city can issue a request for proposals.

A staff report said the extension from Main Street to Brookside Boulevard would cost $755 million, plus $147 million in interest, if the city funds it solely through debt.

The city could explore traditional construction, a public-private partnership and other options to extend Chief Peguis, the report said.

fpcity@freepress.mb.ca