NIVERVILLE — A dangerous stretch of Manitoba highway is getting a few upgrades, but some say the province hasn’t gone far enough.
Construction of new traffic lights has started at the intersection of Highway 59 and 311. The upgrades are in response to a number of crashes at the treacherous roadway.
“It’s incredibly dangerous. I’ve seen a few close calls and had some myself,” one Niverville resident said.
In February, flames erupted after a two vehicle collision at the corner. A 65-year-old man was pulled from his burning vehicle, and two women were sent to hospital after the crash.
READ MORE: Fiery crash on Hwy 59 sparks rally for change
“There’s lots of crashes all the time,” another resident said. “I’ve had to pull over with my 6-year-old son in the car because people are in a rush.”
After the crash, MLA Shannon Martin along with Niverville Mayor Myron Dyck pushed the province to make a change.
Now, months later, many have said the installation of traffic lights is a start but the province needs to go a step further.
“I’ve never seen lights in the middle of a highway like that,” one woman said. “I’ts been a treacherous corner, there have been so many deaths there.”
Martin is again renewing calls for the provincial government to twin that section of Highway 59.
“(It) would go a long ways to enhancing the safety,” Martin said. “What we are seeing, with the addition of the lights, is a stop gap measure. Yes, it will enhance the safety in the short term but we need to start thinking long term in terms of our infrastructure needs.”
Niverville and the surrounding communities are one of the fastest growing populations in our province.
“This area isn’t going to see a reduction in traffic,” said Martin. “It’s only going to see an increase in traffic as the weeks, months and years go by.”
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