WINNIPEG – City streets are a problem Winnipeggers know all too well. That’s why the city plans to spend more than $103 million on local and regional street repairs this year.
Some of the big projects include Selkirk and Henderson highway. The biggest project is slated for next year, re-doing Pembina highway north and south from Confusion Corner to Grant.
But it’s not as easy as hiring construction crews and putting them to work. Manitoba Hydro, MTS, water and waste, and others have to be consulted.
“You’re peeling back the concrete and you’re seeing whats underneath with the sewer system and the water system,” said St. Norbert Councillor Janice Lukes. “There’s old pipes underneath there so it’s a lot of coordinaton and it’s a big task.”
And then there’s the unprecedented amount of money and short construction season.
“We’ve gone from, you know, $50 million to $80 million to $103 million and… there will be a couple of challenges so the window of opportunity to deliver it stays the same,” said public works manager of engingeering Lester Deane.
But if the city maintains the funding, this University of Manitoba civil engineering professor thinks it will pay off, eventually.
“If this level of funding is sustained over a longer period of time, lets say 10 years period of time, you will start to see a real difference in the quality of streets,” said Prof. Ahmed Shalaby.
Meaning Winnipeggers could see roadwork continuing for a while longer.
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