The Manitoba government will invest millions of dollars in repairs and upgrades along PTH 12 south of the Trans-Canada Highway, Premier Greg Selinger announced.
“This highway is a heavily travelled north-south tourist and trade route and these road investments will improve the ride for heavy trucks and commuters,” Premier Selinger said. “The new projects include bridge replacements and paving and resurfacing of this roadway, which is a direct link to the Trans-Canada Highway, the national highway system and CentrePort Canada.”
Over $28 million has been budgeted for PTH 12 in 2014-15, the premier said, adding this year’s work includes:
- rehabilitating the Seine River Diversion bridge, just south of Ste. Anne;
- paving the north and southbound lanes of the six-kilometre stretch from the Trans-Canada Highway to the Seine River Diversion, a project awarded to Borland Construction with paving occurring over the next two years;
- improving the intersection at PR 311 near Blumenort; and
- paving seven km from south of PTH 52 to Park Road in Steinbach.
The premier also noted the projects are part of the Manitoba government’s $5.5-billion Five-Year Plan to Build a Stronger Manitoba and include other major work in the area over the next several years:
- paving PR 302 for eight km north of Richer;
- paving the Trans-Canada Highway for over 30 km east of PTH 12 to the Brokenhead River including paved shoulders, rumble strips and intersection improvements at existing access points to enhance safety;
- paving 43 km of PTH 12 from the Trans-Canada Highway north to Anola and on to PTH 44;
- surfacing 12.2 km of PTH 12 from Steinbach to the Seine River;
- completing the paving of PTH 12 from the Trans-Canada Highway to the Seine River Diversion and the completion of the structure over the diversion; and
- partnering with Steinbach for major improvements on PTH 12 in Steinbach, under the Urban Highway Fund.
The premier noted the province repaved sections of Dawson Road (PTH 207) last year, which runs through the town of Ste. Anne, with more paving to continue this year and the province is committed to working with the Town of Ste. Anne to scope out other options for future upgrades.
Premier Selinger also noted that work will be done on this year on PTH 12 southeast of Steinbach including:
- grading shoulders for 23.5 km south of Steinbach;
- microsurfacing of 22 km north of Piney; and
- rehabilitating structures at east and west Pine Creek, east of Piney, as well as structures at Mud Creek and Sprague Creek, south of Sprague.
The premier said today’s announcement is part of the province’s new $5.5-billion, five-year core infrastructure plan developed in consultation with municipalities, business, labour leaders and industry associations across Manitoba.
Highlights from an independent analysis conducted by the Conference Board of Canada project that Manitoba’s $5.5-billion investment in core infrastructure will:
- boost Manitoba’s economy by $6.3 billion,
- boost exports by $5.4 billion, and
- boost retail sales by $1.4 billion.
The board also estimates these investments will create 58,900 jobs and that each $1 invested in the five-year plan will benefit Manitoba’s economy by $1.16.
The five-year plan can be found at www.gov.mb.ca/mit/pdf/five-yr-plan.pdf
Motorists are reminded to slow down and use caution approaching and in construction zones, for their own safety and the safety of workers.
