Paved road ‘dream come true’

A stretch of Mollard Road has been paved, following years of lobbying for the change by Winnipeg’s Sikh community.

The provincial government, which promised to pave the road last year, has spent $6 million to get the work done.

The road is an important connection to the Sikh Society of Manitoba building at 1244 Mollard Road.

Harbans Brar, president of the society, said community members lost count of the number of premiers, ministers, MPs and others they had asked to upgrade the road over the years.

“This time our dream came true,” said Brar.

Premier Wab Kinew stressed the development is worth celebrating.

“It’s a beautiful road here, very smooth, that’s the news of the day,” said Kinew.

The road project was slated to include a walking path, which is expected to make accessing the site safer, the province said.

However, that path was not yet in place Thursday.

In a Thursday evening statement, City of Winnipeg officials said their agreement on the construction project included asphalt reconstruction of Mollard Road from Pipeline Road to the railroad tracks east of King Edward Street and resurfacing of the granular road from the railroad tracks to King Edward Street. The statement said it did not include a walking path.

The Sikh Society of Manitoba pushed heavily for the project since 2021, after opening an expanded building on Mollard, which includes Khalsa School, a large library and expanded worship space.

The province provided the funding through a strategic municipal investment fund.

Mayor Scott Gillingham said the upgrade will make travel in the area safer.

“In the spring time, when the road (was) soft or after a heavy rain… before it was paved, at times it was almost impassible and, frankly, it was dangerous at times as well,” said Gillingham.

joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca

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