Council votes to begin multi-pronged Kenaston-Route 90 megaproject

A massive project is moving forward to expand Kenaston Boulevard and replace key infrastructure around it, despite some concerns it won’t have a lasting impact on the area’s traffic-snarling congestion.

On Thursday, city council voted 11-2 in favour taking the first steps to begin the plan next year, with construction to begin as soon as 2028. The proposal would earmark $5 million to start property acquisitions and set early planning to begin in 2027, pending approval in the city’s 2026 budget.

“The Route 90 projects, plural, are all about the potential of Winnipeg. It’s all about…. unlocking our future potential as a city,” said Mayor Scott Gillingham, deeming the boulevard a critical trade route.

The mega project would widen Kenaston-Route 90 to offer three lanes in each direction between Taylor and Ness avenues. It would also replace the St. James bridges, separate aging pipes to reduce combined sewer overflows and add active-transportation pathways on both sides of Kenaston.

It’s expected to cost $614 million, plus $143 million in interest, if the city funds it entirely through debt.

In her first city council meeting after winning last Saturday’s Elmwood-East Kildonan ward byelection, Coun. Emma Durand-Wood joined Coun. Matt Allard (St. Boniface) in opposing the project.

“It’s just a very unaffordable project that takes away resources from other priorities that we have in the city,” said Durand-Wood.

She said the city should instead focus its limited funds on expanding public transit and active transportation.

“There’s ways that we can (improve transportation) without just adding more car lanes,” she said.

Couns. Sherri Rollins (Fort Rouge-East Fort Garry), Jeff Browaty (North Kildonan) and Cindy Gilroy (Daniel McIntyre) were absent from the meeting and the vote.

City council’s chairwoman of public works said widening the street is essential for promptly delivering goods throughout the city.

“Transportation is the backbone of our economy, so we need to move people and we need to move goods. And the Route 90 (expansion) is doing all of that,” said Coun. Janice Lukes (Waverley West).

The decision comes after members of the Transportation and Land Use Coalition urged councillors to reject the project.

During Thursday’s council meeting, coalition member Tim Fennell argued the city simply can’t afford the Kenaston overhaul and shouldn’t “saddle” future generations with paying off the tab.

“It’s a lot of money we’re talking about here…. We’re planning to pay for it over 30 years,” said Fennell.

He also questioned why a third-party cost benefit analysis was not fully released to the public. To date, only the executive summary has been published. That Deloitte review predicts the project would produce about $10 million more in benefits more than it will cost throughout its life cycle.

Coalition member Brian Pincott said adding traffic lanes will attract more vehicles to the route, quickly eliminating any improved traffic flow.

“Kenaston is horrible to drive on. They’re… thinking if we add another lane we’ll improve traffic flow, we’ll reduce congestion. Any transportation planner knows that induced demand chews up your extra capacity right away,” said Pincott, who acknowledged the need for bridge, sewer and road-resurfacing components of the project.

Gillingham said a traffic increase in the area is not a risk but a guarantee, noting the Naawi-Oodena redevelopment of the former Kapyong Barracks is expected to add up to 3,100 more residential units in the area.

“This is not an induced demand, this is an inevitable demand,” he said.

The mayor said the road widening would be needed to create the capacity required to expand transit in the area.

“The only way that we could expand transit is to expand that road. The potential growth of transit in that area would be completely tied to (that),” he said.

joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca

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