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For the first time in over four decades, Winnipeggers are now able to cross on foot at one of the city's most iconic intersections.
Portage and Main has been closed to pedestrians since 1979, and at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, it officially opened to foot traffic again.
In March 2024, Mayor Scott Gillingham recommended reopening the intersection, as the costs to repair the Portage and Main underground infrastructure began to soar.
"Portage and Main was the third busiest intersection before the pandemic. It is now the sixth busiest in the city," said Gillingham. “It’s time to deal with Portage and Main and move on to more important issues like improving traffic flow throughout the rest of the city, redesigning our new transit network, and investing in new recreation facilities in growing neighbourhoods.”
Gillingham says that the project finished on schedule and on budget.
Construction to remove the barricades at Portage and Main began in October 2024, with several lane closures throughout the following months.
The work remained on budget and schedule, and the remaining temporary barricades will be removed today, with Mayor Scott Gillingham marking the occasion with a ceremonial first walk across the intersection.
The reopening also coincides with the June 29 launch of the Primary Transit Network, which will also move buses off most of Graham.
