By: Richard Kamchen - Community Correspondent
Road resurfacing and rehabilitation is continuing its southward expansion down Pembina Highway and will feature bicycle routes.
"The University of Manitoba is the second most-commuted-to destination in the City of Winnipeg by people on bikes, in buses and in cars," says acting deputy mayor Janice Lukes, city councillor for St. Norbert ward.
The motivation behind the ongoing roadwork is tied to the city’s efforts to expand rapid transit to the Fort Garry campus.
"The U of M is growing and expanding, they’re redeveloping the Southwood Golf Course there, and the south end is growing tremendously. So we’re looking at all forms of transportation," Lukes says.
The approximately four-month project, which is part of Winnipeg’s Public Works Department’s regional street renewal program, is budgeted at $4.45 million. It began May 12 and, weather permitting, is anticipated to be completed Aug. 28.
Construction is occurring on southbound Pembina from Bairdmore Boulevard North Leg to Kirkbridge Drive; and northbound from Killarney Avenue to Dalhousie Drive.
The renewal project will include new bike lanes, pavement widening, curb and sidewalk renewal, bus stop upgrades, and boulevard upgrading where required. Asphalt resurfacing will follow to improve drainage and rideability.
Street medians are being narrowed to widen the roads in order to accommodate a 1.5 metre buffered bike lane. No additional vehicle travel lanes will be constructed.
The bike lanes will mirror the design of the buffered bike lanes on Pembina from University Crescent to Markham Road. During non-winter months, cyclists will be separated from traffic by plastic bollards, which are essentially tall white dividers that alert drivers to the bike lanes next to them.
The bus stops will feature bike boarding platforms and are also to be constructed using a design similar to the bus stops on Pembina from University Crescent to Markham.
The boulevards on Pembina from Kirkbridge to Bairdmore will be re-seeded.
Pembina Highway will remain open to traffic and access to all businesses and residential premises will be maintained.
Lukes says she wishes to see the project expand farther south in the future.
"I’m hoping the following year it goes right to the Perimeter."
Richard Kamchen is a community correspondent for Fort Richmond.