A trio of municipalities, known as the PTH 75 Caucus, are welcoming news of further improvements to the major thoroughfare.
Nearly 9 kilometers of the southbound lanes between St. Jean and Morris are currently under reconstruction as part of an overall $49 million dollar investment the Province is making into southern Manitoba highways that it says will improve driver and pedestrian safety while also supporting economic growth throughout the region.
Consisting of the Town of Morris and RMs of Emerson-Franklin and Montcalm, Caucus representatives say the $32.3 million dollar investment into PTH 75 aligns with their collective vision of the highway as a critical route along the Mid-Continent Trade Corridor.
"Over the past several years, there has been a heightened effort from all three communities to ‘untap’ the economic potential of PTH 75 by creating investment and jobs, while ensuring the safety and sustainability in the movement of goods along this important corridor," outlined a Caucus statement submitted to PembinaValleyOnline. "We see this investment by our Provincial Government as an essential project to support ongoing and emerging economic development interests of residents and industries alike, as well as cultivating a renewed trade profile for the provincial trade network and the Canadian portion of the Mid-Continent Trade Corridor."
"We know Highway 75 has suffered quite a bit in the last few years with issues with the condition of the highway, whether it's potholes or seams coming apart and concrete crumbling, literally. It's quite embarrassing really," added Caucus Chair and Emerson-Franklin Reeve Dave Carlson in an interview. "Manitoba is positioning itself as a trade hub with CenterPort and then beyond that into Churchill. We need the proper infrastructure because how do you create a world class trade experience without world class highways?"
This latest investment only takes into account 8.8 kilometers of the southbound lanes, and Carlson says the Caucus would certainly like to see the rest get taken care from Letellier to the Canada/U.S. Border. As well, there are concerns around highway maintenance during the winter months.
"MTI (Manitoba Transportation and Infrastructure) has been short staffed and they just don't seem to have the boots on the ground," added Carlson. "We'd definitely like to see that improved because when you have highway closures and dangerous driving conditions for the winter months, that's not a good look either. So, we're really hoping that those investments can be made as well on the maintenance end of things."
"While there is much work to be done, we are encouraged by recent upgrades to PTH 75 and are excited to continue playing an active role in promoting trade and tourism opportunities along the corridor, ensuring its prestige and profile on an international stage, and facilitating major investments into our communities for years to come," added the Caucus statement.
Earlier, Paul Gilmore, the Reeve for the Municipality of Montcalm, said in a statement that these most recent repairs to the highway were great and, long overdue, news.
“I’m certain our rate payers will applaud this initiative along with the thousands of travellers on this major highway connecting Manitoba to our southern neighbours!”
With files from PTH 75 Caucus and the Province of Manitoba