WINNIPEG – Business owners in and around the Whiteshell are bracing themselves for a huge hit ahead of Canada Day long weekend. “It’s the biggest weekend of the year,” said Glen Kirby, owner of Rennie River Leisure Wednesday. “It’ll cost us thousands.”
Kirby’s gas station on Hwy 307 off of Hwy 44, which also sells liquor, groceries and food says highway flooding was supposed to be relieved by a new culvert he’s since learned won’t be replaced until after the long weekend. Kirby says he’s spent over $20,000 stocking up for the weekend.
“We’ve stocked up on pop, chips, everything to carry through the weekend,” Kirby said. “It seems like nobody gives a damn.” Kirby told Global News after multiple calls to the Manitoba highways department, he still doesn’t have a straight answer about that particular road.
READ MORE: Whiteshell flooding: Aerial look of road and yard washouts near Caddy Lake
The province tells Global News its been updating Manitobans regularly through its twitter account and its bulletins, encouraging everyone to follow @MbGovRoads and @MbGovNews for up to the minute updates on road conditions, closures, or re-openings.
Kirby has put on 523 kilometres in two days getting to and from his business, normally 8 kilometres from his home, because of an hour and a half long detour one way.
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