By: Aldo Santin
North Kildonan Coun. Jeff Browaty said he still has concerns over a proposed at-grade corridor across the north Perimeter Highway, despite assurances by the province it won't be used as a public roadway.
Infrastructure and Transportation Minister Ron Kostyshyn told the Free Press Friday there are no immediate plans to allow traffic on the new corridor that will link both sides of Raleigh Street in East St. Paul.
Kostyshyn said the corridor is being designed for active-transportation uses that can accommodate emergency vehicles when the situation arises.
"The corridor will not be opened to the public, and Coun. Browaty's concern that the design will result in 30,000 vehicles moving through northeast Winnipeg is unfounded," Kostyshyn said.
Browaty went public with his concerns over the corridor earlier this week, saying it would result in a massive influx of traffic into north Winnipeg and the residential streets of North Kildonan.
The Selinger government promised in the 2011 campaign to construct an elevated active-transportation bridge across the north Perimeter -- part of its plans for a cloverleaf at the Perimeter and Highway 59 -- linking the Pioneers Greenway pathway that runs through East and North Kildonan with a similar pathway in East St. Paul and on to Birds Hill Park.
Browaty said those plans suddenly changed in the fall, to an underpass open to traffic linking Raleigh Street on both sides of the north Perimeter Highway.
Kostyshyn said the corridor has been designed to accommodate an expansion for vehicular traffic, but added that would only occur "if both municipalities wish to pursue that option in the future."
Browaty said the province did not consult with Winnipeg when it recently changed its plans for the corridor, adding he's not reassured the NDP government will consult the city when the time comes to allow traffic on the corridor.
"Those (provincial) assurances aside, I still believe there are better ways to spend the money than what the province is planning to do," Browaty said.
Browaty said traffic studies done by East St. Paul found 30,000 vehicles a day would use the new corridor by 2030 if opened to regular traffic, adding Winnipeg's residential streets in that area aren't designed to handle that kind of load.
The province hasn't disclosed the cost of the proposed corridor, but a spokeswoman said it's estimated to be the same as the active-transportation bridge originally proposed for the crossing.
She added it was concluded the at-grade corridor was the better option.
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition March 14, 2015 A14