Cuts, Perimeter changes put road users at risk
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 02/11/2021 (575 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
For motorists across our province, roads and highways that get us where we’re going safely and efficiently should be a top priority for the government. After all, smart investments in infrastructure help keep families safe on the road, build our economy through trade, and create good jobs at the same time.
Unfortunately, Manitobans are once again seeing underspending and mismanagement from the Progressive Conservative government — which continues to put our roads at risk.
Over the last few months, commuters in northeast Winnipeg may have noticed some changes along the north Perimeter. Many access roads along the highway have seen their intersections with the Perimeter cut off, with no new investments in upgraded infrastructure, paved roads, or proper ways to safely and efficiently divert traffic.
Despite their own consultations, which flagged this as a concern for residents and business owners, the government has pushed ahead with their plan by simply removing the access roads with zero infrastructure upgrades. This means many neighbourhoods are left with less access to their communities, emergency vehicles and response teams will have to travel further, and local businesses could struggle with a loss of customers due to their access roads being cut off.
The government’s refusal to meaningfully invest in this project is no surprise. After years of underspending their own budgets on our roads and highways, Manitobans recently learned that the PC government cut hundreds of jobs from Manitoba’s Infrastructure department. In fact, almost 400 job vacancies exist in highway maintenance alone, with dozens of others coming from areas like road safety.
It’s no wonder our roads are in such dire need of repair.
Putting infrastructure upgrades and maintenance at the top of the agenda should be a no-brainer. As the MLA for Concordia and NDP caucus critic for infrastructure, advocating for safer, well-kept streets and highways is one of my top priorities. I will continue advocating for better investments in infrastructure to keep Manitoba moving and create the jobs we need emerging from the pandemic.
Let me know which streets and highways across Manitoba you think need to be fixed most. As always, my office can be reached at 204-654-1857 or matt.wiebe@yourmanitoba.ca
Matt Wiebe
Concordia constituency report
Matt Wiebe is the NDP MLA for Concordia.