Construction set to begin in July

One of Winnipeg's busiest streets, Pembina Highway, is about to get a bicycle-friendly makeover.

The City of Winnipeg will begin construction in July of dedicated cycling lanes northbound and southbound on Pembina between Chevrier Boulevard and Plaza Drive.

"They're going to narrow the median, move the vehicles over, and so we'll have the sidewalk, we'll have a bike lane, and then we'll have the same number of lanes for traffic," Janice Lukes of the Winnipeg Trails Association told CBC News Thursday.

"There won't be any reduction in traffic, no reduction in parking," she added.

Lukes said she's not sure when construction of the lanes will be completed, but she said it's a priority given the new Winnipeg Blue Bombers stadium that is currently being built at the University of Manitoba.

The city is also looking at ways to expand the Pembina Highway underpass to accommodate cyclists as well as add an extra lane of vehicular traffic.

Audio interview of Janice Lukes by CBC Radio One's Larry Updike on Up To Speed -- 5:14