Several months of preliminary work have already gone into a significant road project in Winkler, and more action at the site will soon commence.
As development continues in the area north of Highway 14, the city is preparing to extend Park Street to make the commute in the growing area of the city more efficient.
"Park Street is our big road project this year," said Winkler Mayor Henry Siemens. "What we've done so far, and people will have seen lots of equipment in that area, we've had some water mains and some services updated there."
Siemens says crews now need to realign that intersection. "We're going to have to increase the size of it a little bit to make sure that turning radiuses are good for Manitoba Highways." Once the work to realign the intersection is complete, Siemens says Park Street will be extended all the way through to Northlands Parkway.
A busy intersection in Winkler will also see significant upgrades over the summer. City Council also set funds aside in the 2023 budget for intersection improvements at Main Street and Stanley Avenue.
"Initially our cost didn't come in the way we had hoped, but we were able to make some considerations there to make that happen," said Siemens. "I believe the drainage work is going to start in the next week or so. We're waiting for some parts supplies to arrive, and then the intersection and road work will start after that drainage work is done."
Road work at the intersection is expected to begin towards the end of July or early August, and will then take about a month to complete.
Meanwhile, one of three road projects set to happen this year is being delayed, that being the restoration of the eastern end of North Railway Street. Siemens says the project has been cause for some frustration.
"Our tenders came in significantly higher than anticipated and a lot of that we were told due to the road configuration being not standard, so it was going to cost more money to do it. So, when we reviewed it and we looked at it, ultimately, we made the determination that we're going to postpone it till 2024."
Siemens says the scope of the work on North Railway will also be expanded. He says the hope is to refurbish the entire stretch between Main Street and Highway 32.
"They're all significant projects, they're all going to be uncomfortable and maybe a touch frustrating when our normal routes are impacted right now, but when complete, it will significantly improve our commutes in those areas."
- with files from Abby Wall -