Carberry residents blast plan for Highway 5

CARBERRY — Residents blasted the provincial government at an open house Wednesday where for the first time the restricted crossing U-turn (RCUT) design was named as the “preferred alternative” for the intersection of Highway 5 and the Trans-Canada Highway.

The fourth round of community consultation on the intersection turned into a one-way shouting match at times, with community members fuming over the proposed change.

About 150 people packed into the Carberry Collegiate gymnasium where about 30 placards and maps illustrated why, according to the province, an RCUT is the best option for the intersection.

“It is time for rural residents to get the same treatment as urban areas,” community member Debra Steen said to a representative from one of the consulting firms hired by the province.

“We’re tired of getting the cheapest solution. You need to go back to the government and tell them this needs to be re-looked at. We demand an overpass.”

The RCUT would force drivers going straight or turning left from Highway 5 to turn right before crossing over three lanes and making a U-turn 900 metres later. Drivers turning left from the Trans-Canada would be able to turn at the intersection.

Community members accumulated more than 2,100 signatures saying an RCUT isn’t the right option.

Area residents at the open house said an overpass is what they want to see built, an option the province ruled out in the early stages of the study.

“They’re laughing at us, they’re saying we’ll get used to it, they’re saying rural lives are not worth it,” Jordan Dickson said.

The province ordered the redesign of the intersection following the June 2023 collision that claimed the lives of 17 seniors.

“We’re tired of getting the cheapest solution.”–Debra Steen

At the start of the discussion, Dickson stopped and asked the crowd if anyone from the community was in favour of the RCUT. Not a single hand was raised and a smattering of “no’s” rang around the gym.

“So why are you pushing it on us? They haven’t listened to a single thing we said,” Dickson said.

“We are listening,” Donovan Toews, managing partner of Landmark Planning and Design, told the crowd. “What I hear is local folks … don’t like the RCUT design and do want an interchange.”

Toews said the project consultants, which also include the firm WSP, “are doing our job to do proper engineering, to be objective, and to make a recommendation that we feel would be the safest and most appropriate for this location.”

“Not everyone will agree with that, and we will make a recommendation.”

The petition will be included with whatever recommendation the consultants make, Toews said.

An area potato farmer said if an RCUT does get built, it will not only be dangerous, but confusing.

“We don’t expect an overpass, because we don’t live in the Perimeter. I can’t even imagine this fiasco,” said Paul Adriaansen.

Steen, during an interview with the Brandon Sun following the group discussion, said it’s important the government knows what locals who cross the intersection regularly know.

“I think it’s important that they hear locally that there is no one in Carberry that’s in favour of the RCUT. I hope they’re listening, I hope they hear us. I think we’re clear,” she said.

Carberry Mayor Ray Muirhead said an overpass is the only thing the town wants.

“We are strongly urging the government to reconsider and put our overpass in,” he said.

According to one of the placards set up, the cost for an overpass would be $100 million or more.

The cost for an RCUT is about one-fifth of that, said Dustin Booy, an official with Manitoba Transportation and Infrastructure.

“We’ve seen different situations before over the years, over the decades where it’s involved protests, public outcry and the government has found money. It’s amazing how they can find money for other stuff,” Muirhead said.

The number of farmers and volume of large trucks that come through the area make the RCUT model dangerous, he said.

“We just need something that’s uninterrupted and less confusing. If it works and it’s common in the States, why do they only have one in Canada, but there’s overpasses everywhere else?” he asked.

The only RCUT intersection in Canada is near Saskatoon on Highway 16.

Booy said the RCUT intersection is safer because it reduces the number of conflict points. If people do get into an accident, it won’t be in a T-bone fashion, so there’s a lesser chance of serious injury.

The feedback gathered at the meeting will be brought to the government, but it is solely up to the officials in charge to make the final decision, he said.

alambert@brandonsun.com