Commuters and truckers travelling along Highway 75 between Ste. Agathe and Morris may be pleased to learn that the provincial government has made a commitment to a full roadway reconstruction between the two communities in 2023.
The announcement was made by Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Doyle Piwniuk on August 24. The highway restoration project will come at a cost of $61 million and is part of $1.5 billion the province plans to invest in highway improvements across Manitoba over the next three years.
“Our government is committed to building safe, reliable infrastructure that supports economic growth and opportunity in our province,” Piwniuk said in the news release. “These upgrades will improve the efficiency of Canada’s international and interprovincial trade flows and make travel on PTH 75 safer for everyone.”
The roadwork will be split into two projects, one on the southbound lanes between Highway 23 and Provincial Road 205. The existing pavement along this stretch dates back to 1991.
The other portion of the highway project, also involving the southbound lanes, will include the stretch between Provincial Road 205 and Provincial Road 305. This pavement dates back even further, to 1988.
While the four-lane section of roadway has undergone countless maintenance efforts over the years, Minister Piwniuk agrees that the deterioration has reached a point where a full reconstruction is required.
The project, in its entirety, will include surface reconstruction with concrete pavement, as well as improvements to the shoulders, drainage, and intersections.
“On behalf of the members of the Manitoba Trucking Association (MTA), we welcome today’s infrastructure investment announcement,” Aaron Dolyniuk, executive director of the Manitoba Trucking Association says. “Road safety is a priority for the MTA and investments such as the one announced today will improve safety for everyone travelling this route. Furthermore, this investment in Manitoba’s main north-south trade route will allow our industry members to remain internationally competitive by providing a reliable, efficient goods-transportation network.”
Ste. Agathe councillor Curtis Claydon attended the media announcement. He says that although only five kilometers of this stretch of highway lies within the RM of Ritchot’s boundaries, the community will benefit from the entire reconstruction project.
“The transportation sector is incredibly important to the success of Riel Industrial Park,” Claydon says. “Improved infrastructure will help the flow of goods from agricultural producers to our processing facilities and provide a competitive advantage to the growing number of businesses choosing Ste. Agathe for its proximity to Highway 75.”
Additionally, he says, residents of the community will enjoy a safer and more comfortable drive as they head south to work or a trip across the U.S. border.
