Trucking association, CAA voice support for proposed long-term South Perimeter upgrades

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This article was published 27/08/2020 (2041 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Drivers may one day be able to travel on the South Perimeter Highway without having to slow down or stop at traffic lights or stop signs.

As well, motorists could see a wider highway with three lanes in each direction and a series of overpasses and interchanges.

These are just some of the proposed changes that are all part of the South Perimeter Highway Design Study released Thursday by the province.

Provincial Infrastructure Minister Ron Schuler said it all comes down to wanting to prevent collisions on the highway, which connects to two of the province’s major economic lifelines, the Trans-Canada Highway and Highway 75 to the United States.

“Safety is our government’s No. 1 priority,” Schuler said at a news conference held outside the legislature Thursday.

“We recognized as a government the safer we make the Perimeter Highway the less safe uncontrolled intersections on the Perimeter Highway become.”

Schuler said that’s why in 2017 the government hired WSP Canada Group Ltd., to do a $3.6-million functional design study looking at reconstructing the highway to remove uncontrolled crossings.

He noted the province is already constructing the Brady Road service road, while construction on a West Perimeter Highway service road from Wilkes Avenue to Oakland Road is expected to start later this year.

As well, the province has approved the construction of an interchange at St. Mary’s Road, with construction expected to start next year, as well as a service road at Aimes Road and Melnick Road.

Now, with the study, which looked at all of the uncontrolled crossings over the Perimeter between the Trans-Canada Highway west interchange at Portage Avenue and the Trans-Canada Highway east interchange at Fermor Road, Schuler said the province has “a blueprint for the next 20 to 30 years.

“Our goal is to make the South Perimeter safer for the more than 30,000 vehicles driving the Perimeter Highway every day.”

Manitoba Trucking Association executive director Terry Shaw said he was pleased with Schuler’s announcement, but the association would also like to push harder on the time frame’s accelerator.

“It’s very positive,” Shaw said. “It signals to us the commitment they are taking this opportunity seriously.

“But way back in 1988 it was recommended this road should be a freeway with limited access. We’re already 30 years behind schedule… with some of it starting in 2021, 30 years goes to 2051. Based on what came out in 1988, it will be the better part of a century total before this is done.”

Shaw said interest rates are low, not having to stop and start lowers emissions and helps the environment and construction would aid the economy during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Why 20 or 30 years? Why not five, 10 or a 15-year timeline?”

Heather Mack, CAA Manitoba’s government and community relations manager, said that organization is also pleased.

“We think it’s really great they really are taking on road safety,” Mack said.

“Obviously, it’s a long-term project, but putting road safety first is wonderful.”

The study splits the upgrades on the highway into two phases, with the first to upgrade it to a four-lane divided highway with improved structure, interchanges and bridges. The second stage would see the highway upgraded to six lanes and construct new interchanges where needed.

The study also includes a possible bypass around St. Norbert; connecting to Highway 75 south of the community and linking up with the Perimeter near Kenaston Boulevard.

Schuler said with the Perimeter Highway spanning 90 kilometres around the city, currently with only 13 overpasses out of 23 signalized and controlled intersections, “we have our work cut out for us.”

“This won’t be cheap,” he said.

kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca

 

 

South Perimeter Design Study