WINNIPEG – Millions more dollars will be spent on fixing roads in Winnipeg, after an announcement Monday morning.
The province says it will add nearly $65 million to the city’s road work budget this year, although $50 million of that is part of a previously-announced 5-year program for local and regional street renewal and almost $10 million is money left unspent from previous Winnipeg road work projects.
The funding is on top of $103 million dollars the city already plans to spend fixing roads in 2015.
Premier Greg Selinger made the announcement Monday morning in a parking lot at Ness Ave. and St. James St., alongside Winnipeg mayor Brian Bowman.
It’s the first public meeting between the two leaders since the NDP government brought down its budget last week, which Bowman criticized for failing to meet Winnipeg’s need for increased funding, saying it “Sadly does not fit the bill and we will be working very hard with our provincial partners to fundamental fix the model because its broken.”
Standing next to Selinger Monday, Bowman was less vocal and said he was happy with the latest funding announcement but still felt the province needs to find a new way to consistently send funding to the city.
“We have that dialogue with the province, and we are going to build upon it, but make no mistake about it we are gong to have tough discussions in the future about the right model,” Bowman said.
Selinger said while those talks are happening, why not improve Winnipeg roads with the money already in place.
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” Lets get a record number of work done this year while we’re having these discussions,” Selinger explained.
Road repair projects planned by Winnipeg this year include Portage Ave., Ness Ave., Pembina Hwy., Main St. and St. James St.
The Manitoba Heavy Construction Association says there are enough workers available and ready to start repairing roads, but the slow tendering process and awarding contractors each job can hold up progress.
“We’re hopeful that once we get rolling an earlier approval system we’ll be in the field earlier and get more work done,” Chris Lorenc explained.
He adds that Winnipeg’s four seasons can also make completing projects in a timely fashion an issue.
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