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Manitoba receives stakeholder support for new highway grid

Manitoba’s proposed grid of new highways has received majority consensus from public and industry stakeholders through an online survey conducted by EngageMB.

“We have heard from Manitobans, municipalities and industry on planning and prioritizing highway projects in Manitoba so we can continue to build and maintain a robust highway network that supports the economy through access to interprovincial and international markets,” says Ron Schuler, infrastructure minister, in a statement.

“Our government will use the feedback to help direct our investments toward critical shipping routes in Manitoba.”

The province is planning and improving specific trade and commerce routes for the provincial highway network.

The proposed Trade & Commerce grid is more than 7,000 kilometres of provincial roads, with nearly 6,000 kilometres of the grid already supporting Manitoba’s heaviest truck loads. When completed, the grid of trade and commerce routes will represent 36.5 per cent of Manitoba’s all-weather provincial road network.

This past spring, the province engaged stakeholders to review the proposed grid online, and to complete a questionnaire. The EngageMB project site was visited by 578 people and the survey was completed by 287 people.

Email responses were received from industry stakeholders, including the Manitoba Trucking Association and Keystone Agricultural Producers, as well as local government representatives.

“The Association of Manitoba Municipalities (AMM) welcomes the provincial commitment to improve and invest in a robust highway network that helps mitigate damage on municipal roads,” says Kam Blight, president, AMM. “Improving transportation mobility will not only boost economic linkages but will also build stronger local communities throughout Manitoba.”

Schuler notes that allowing heavier loads or greater truck weight limits on Manitoba’s highways will lead to fewer shipments to transport goods and result in cost savings for businesses.

The province plans to review all public input and then finalize the Trade & Commerce grid alongside the provincial interdepartmental working group.

Full results of the EngageMB feedback can be found here.