The City of Winnipeg will spend less on road repairs this year but drivers aren’t likely to enjoy shorter commutes.
And the spending is also expected to rebound next year.
The municipal government will spend $138.3 million to repair local and regional roads this season, down from $159 million in 2023.
RUTH BONNEVILLE / FREE PRESS
The city will spend $138.3 million to repair local and regional roads this season.
During a construction season kickoff event Monday, officials noted the reduced spending isn’t expected to result in shorter commutes.
“There’s still a significant amount of construction and there is some carryover (work) … There is extensive construction still going on, so I don’t think it’ll be any (quicker),” said Brad Neirinck, the city’s manager of engineering for public works.
Mayor Scott Gillingham said the spending is expected to soar back up to $160 million next year. Despite citing ample investments in recent years, he said the city doesn’t expect to reduce its road repair budget in the longer term.
“Frankly, (for) the roads of Winnipeg, for several years we didn’t keep up with the maintenance … we’re at the state right now where we’ve got a lot of roads in Winnipeg and a lot of them need significant repair,” said Gillingham.
In addition to 2024 road dollars, the city will spend an additional $7.2 million on active transportation infrastructure.
This year’s construction projects will enhance sections of Inkster Boulevard, Abinojii Mikanah (formerly Bishop Grandin Boulevard), Grant Avenue/Taylor Avenue, McGregor Street/Partridge Avenue and Dugald Road/Plessis Road, among many other projects. New separated bike lanes will be added on portions of Panet Road and Day Street, while other active transportation paths will be extended.
joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca
X : @joyanne_pursaga
Joyanne Pursaga
Reporter
Joyanne is city hall reporter for the Winnipeg Free Press. A reporter since 2004, she began covering politics exclusively in 2012, writing on city hall and the Manitoba Legislature for the Winnipeg Sun before joining the Free Press in early 2020. Read more about Joyanne.
Every piece of reporting Joyanne produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press’s history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates.
Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber.
Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.