Premier Kinew Unveils $115 Million Plan for Highway Safety Upgrades

Premier Wab Kinew announced a significant investment of $115 million on March 15, 2024, aimed at enhancing highway safety in the Glenboro area of Manitoba. The announcement, made to a crowd of approximately 50 local residents, outlines plans for crucial upgrades to three major highways—Highways 2, 5, and 34—as well as the replacement of two key bridges.

Standing beside Highway 2, Kinew emphasized the importance of improving road safety for residents, particularly those in rural communities. “This is all about making sure that Manitobans, especially folks who live in rural communities, have a good quality of life,” he stated. Kinew noted that many people in rural Manitoba spend significant time on the road and highlighted the need for better infrastructure.

The investment will cover the replacement of a bridge over the Assiniboine River on Highway 34, north of Holland, and another bridge on Highway 5, which leads to Spruce Woods Provincial Park. In addition, the project will rehabilitate a bridge over the Souris River on Highway 2, located west of Wawanesa.

The plans include the repair and resurfacing of 15 kilometers of Highway 5, which will lift restrictions and increase permissible axle weights during the spring thaw. Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Lisa Naylor joined Kinew during the announcement, stressing that the upgrades would enhance road safety and foster economic growth in local communities.

“Local agriculture producers have faced significant hardship due to poor road conditions and spring road restrictions,” Naylor said. She noted that Highway 2 is particularly vital for the community, reflecting the government’s priorities in upgrading routes that benefit farmers, businesses, and tourists.

Additional work on Highway 34 will include grading repairs, with a temporary guardrail and reduced speed limit in place during construction. Naylor criticized the previous government, asserting that the former Progressive Conservative administration neglected roadway maintenance.

Konrad Narth, the transportation and infrastructure critic for the Progressive Conservative Party, disputed Naylor’s claims, arguing that the announcement was merely a rehash of previous plans. “These are rehashed PC plans from 2023,” he stated, suggesting the announcement was politically motivated in an attempt to garner votes in the Spruce Woods constituency.

Mayor Charles Radford of the Municipality of Glenboro-South Cypress welcomed the announcement, noting the importance of local highways for residents, farmers, and tourists. He described the recent work on Highway 2 as “welcome” for the community.

The rehabilitation of Highway 5 is set to commence this winter, with an anticipated completion date in fall 2027. Grading repairs on Highway 34 are scheduled to begin this fall, with completion expected by fall 2026. The bridge over the Assiniboine River is slated for completion by summer 2024, while the work on the bridge leading to Spruce Woods is anticipated to start this fall and conclude by late fall 2027.

This substantial investment in highway infrastructure aims not only to improve safety but also to bolster the economy in Manitoba’s rural communities, ensuring that vital transport routes are maintained for all users.