Rock to Road

News
Manitoba to upgrade integral U.S. trade route

November 13, 2013  By Rock to Road


November 13, 2013, Winnipeg, Man. – A major new investment
by the Manitoba government will rebuild PTH 75 to interstate standards that
will ensure it remains open during Red River floods like the 2009 flood. Manitoba Premier Greg Selinger and Infrastructure and
Transportation Minister Steve Ashton made the announcement in Winnipeg.

November 13, 2013, Winnipeg, Man. – A major new investment
by the Manitoba government will rebuild PTH 75 to interstate standards that
will ensure it remains open during Red River floods like the 2009 flood. Manitoba Premier Greg Selinger and Infrastructure and
Transportation Minister Steve Ashton made the announcement in Winnipeg.

"PTH 75 is Manitoba's main link to our major trading
partner, the United States, and to all of North America. When flooding closes
the highway, Manitoba businesses and our economy lose millions. That's why
we've made rebuilding it a priority," said premier Selinger.

The southbound lanes of PTH 75 from Winnipeg to the U.S.
border were upgraded to interstate standards during the last five years. The
premier said that the $215 million in new investments will allow the remaining
northbound lanes to be built to those same standards and is expected to create
the equivalent of one year of employment for 2,500 people.

Advertisement

"Highway 75 is one of western Canada's main trade
conduits to North America and each week it is closed costs the Manitoba
trucking industry about $1.5 million," said Bob Dolyniuk, executive
director, the Manitoba Trucking Association. 
"These upgrades mean most floods won't stop us doing our job of
connecting Manitoba wholesalers, manufactures, contractors and farmers to trade
across the continent."

Work to bring the highway to interstate standards will
include rebuilding 53 kilometres on northbound lanes of PTH 75 from St. Jean
Baptiste to St. Adolphe and constructing new bridges over the Morris
River (north of Morris) and the Plum River (south of Morris) that will
complement existing flood protection infrastructure for the area.

The premier noted the design of the new bridges would be
finalized after consultations with the public and local officials.  

The minister noted improvements to PTH 75 will be a part of
a five-year plan that will see all of the new revenue from the
one-cent-on-the-dollar increase in the PST devoted to building Manitoba's core
infrastructure including roads and bridges, flood protection and municipal
infrastructure like sewer and water systems.

"We know that building our core, strategic
infrastructure means steady growth in our economy and good jobs for families. So
we're reaching out to municipalities, construction and other stakeholder groups
to make sure we're all pulling in the same direction," he said.

Work will be done in stages to maintain traffic-flow in each
direction on the highway at all times while construction is underway, the
minister added. Rebuilding of the northbound lanes from Aubigny to Ste. Agathe
will be tendered this winter with construction beginning in the spring of 2014.


Print this page

Advertisement

Stories continue below