Manitoba to Repair More Than 40 Bridges in 2013

Building, upgrading and repairing bridges will be the primary focus of road and public infrastructure construction throughout Manitoba this year, as will upgrades to the core highway network.

Released late last year by Infrastructure and Transport Minister Steve Ashton, the province’s 2013 construction tendering schedule lists more than 40 projects involving bridges, with some to be replaced completely and others to undergo major repair.

Those to be completely rebuilt include bridges on PR 227 over the Assiniboine River north of Portage la Prairie, PTH 12 over the Seine River Diversion just south of Ste. Anne, PR 348 over the Little Souris River south of Brandon, PTH 21 over the Souris River near Hartney, PTH 5 over the Turtle River south of Ste. Rose du Lac, PR 251 over the Souris River near Coulter, PTH 5 near Kelwood, and the bridge on PTH 12 over the Rat River southwest of Zhoda. Many of these bridges were damaged during the 2011 flood.

Meanwhile significant repairs are expected to bridges on PTH 23 over the Red River near Morris, PTH 1 westbound over the Birch River near McMunn and PR 211 over the Winnipeg River near Pinawa.

Ashton said the province will also upgrade more than 1,160 kilometres of roads and highways.

Two major projects – the completion of CentrePoint Canada Way, a new road connecting CentrePoint to the national and international highway system, and intersection reconstruction of the Trans-Canada Highway through Headingly – are being jointly funded with the federal government and are scheduled for next summer.

“We have completed many of the major repairs of roads and bridges damaged in last year’s flood and have made record investments in our roads and bridges, but we know there is more to do,” Ashton said. “We will continue to upgrade and renew the province’s vital network of highways and roads, which are the economic backbone of our economy.”

Ashton said since launching its first five-year renewal plan in 2007, the province has invested more than $2.8 billion and improved more than 7,400 kilometers of road.

By Andrew Heaton