Portage la Prairie recently completed its transformative overhaul of Saskatchewan Avenue, aimed at revitalizing the the main street of the community while enhancing critical infrastructure to meet the city’s future needs.
According to city manager Nathan Peto, the construction project, a massive undertaking akin to “renovating a house while living in it,” involved replacing infrastructure over 70 years old. This foundational upgrade was essential for ensuring the new roads would have a solid base.
To avoid major disruptions in the future, the project relocated crucial water and utility lines to the road's shoulders, which Peto notes will allow for easier, less disruptive repairs down the line.
“Now, if there’s a water line break, it won’t disrupt traffic in the middle of Saskatchewan Avenue,” he explained.
In addition to updating utilities, crews upgraded roadways, parking lanes, and curbing, which were part of the city’s goal to modernize the entire avenue.
A key feature of the redesign was its focus on climate resilience, especially with enhanced land drainage. Peto highlighted the effort to adopt standards exceeding typical requirements, preparing the area for increasingly severe storms.
"We wanted to ensure that during heavy rains, water is efficiently drained away from both businesses and residential areas,”
This updated drainage system is expected to help mitigate property damage and keep traffic flowing even in adverse weather conditions.
Peto commented that these improvements may be almost invisible to passersby and added the project’s resilience-focused approach reflects Portage la Prairie’s commitment to its community's long-term well-being.
"We’re proud of what this project means for protecting residents and businesses along Saskatchewan Avenue in the years ahead,” Peto concluded.