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Changes are coming north of Carberry at the scene of a deadly intersection that claimed the lives of 17 Manitobans in 2023.
Carberry Mayor Ray Muirhead says steps have been taken to improve the intersection of the Trans-Canada Highway and Highway 5.
"It's been needed for decades, like this accident that happened a year and a few months ago, where 17 people lost their lives; that was tragic. Unfortunately, something like that had to take place in order for something to be done with that intersection. But we've had troubles with that intersection for literally decades. The two lanes are too close together. Something needs to be done. So, hopefully, something will be done."
Three public consultations were scheduled to discuss the future design of the site of the deadliest crash in the province's history. Muirhead mentions that the consultations have been progressing, and the Carberry City Council is optimistic about the developments.
"They're having these meetings with the stakeholders of the situations such as locals, townspeople, trucking associations and the RCMP."
He explains that three main intersection styles were evaluated based on recommendations from a safety review
- A widened intersection
- A roundabout.
- An RCUT (forces drivers to make a U-turn instead of turning left.)
However, Muirhead notes that the council's preferred option would be an overpass.
"At that time, I didn't think that the overpass was on the table because that was more of a longer-term solution. But it's been put back on the table. So, that was the unanimous consensus around our council table. So, that's what we hope will happen, and that's the community's general consensus as well."
In January, the province stated that an overpass would cost up to $100 million and could take more than 20 years to complete. Muirhead says that the accident has been one of the main topics around town since it happened, with many people asking the mayor what will be done to make the area safer.
"Every time the sirens go off, emergency vehicles and ambulances head north of town; you can pretty much guarantee what's going on. It's bad at this time of year, with potato harvest and the increased traffic volume that causes big trucks to go back and forth and come up from Highway 5 from the south. I mean, it's really dangerous. Something really needs to be done."
Muirhead hopes that positives can be taken away from this tragic situation.
"If I'm not mistaken, I think this intersection at Highways 1 and 5 is going to be the template for other intersections that need to be addressed in the province, too. So, it's a wait-and-see, not only for us but also for other communities that are waiting and seeing what's going to happen."
Construction is expected to begin in late 2025 once the project direction is finalized.