$50M interchange coming
October 10, 2007
Portage Daily Graphic
Written by: Cynthia Münster
Governments commit to build cloverleaf at Highway 1 and 16 junction
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Portage-Lisgar Conservative MP Brian Pallister, left, Manitoba Infrastructure and Transportation Minister Ron Lemieux, Treasury Board President Vic Toews and Portage la Prairie MLA David Faurschou announced federal and provincial investments of $50 million to upgrade the intersection of the Trans-Canada and Yellowhead highways west of Portage, as well as the CN Rail line crossing, yesterday.
Staff photo by Cynthia Münster |
Let the Pacific water and breeze wash over our faces.
The federal government and Province of Manitoba announced yesterday they will invest $50 million to upgrade the intersection of the Trans-Canada and Yellowhead highways 10 kilometres west of Portage la Prairie, as well as the CN Rail line crossing just north of there on Highway 16.
The money will be funneled through the Asia-Pacific Gate-way and Corridor Initiative.
Treasury Board President Vic Toews said these upgrades will facilitate safe and efficient transportation of goods and people throughout Canada, effectively bringing the Pacific a little closer to Central Canada.
Toews made the announcement on behalf of federal Transport, Infrastructure and Communities Minister Lawrence Cannon and Minister for the Pacific Gateway David Emerson. He was joined by Manitoba Infrastructure and Transport-ation Minister Ron Lemieux yesterday at Canad Inns Portage to make the announcement. Portage-Lisgar Conservative MP Brian Pallister and Portage MLA David Faurschou were also present at the announcement.
“We as the federal government will make the $21 million investment to construct an interchange of the Trans-Canada and Yellowhead highways, as well as a grade separation at the CNR main lines. It’s actually going to be a clover leaf eliminating, as I understand, the need for a red light there,” said Toews.
The improved infrastructure will allow trucks and trains to travel directly and easily to container yards in Winnipeg and other facilities in this region and will benefit the economy of this region as well as help improve Canada’s competitiveness in the global economy, said Toews.
The funding is conditional on the project meeting eligibility requirements under the Building Canada Plan, successful negotiation with the province of subsequent agreements and a full federal due diligence. Toews said he is optimistic the federal and provincial government will be able to work together to meet these criteria.
“Portage la Prairie has a strong history as a transportation centre, two major rail lines meet here and two major highways in Western Canada meet just west of town so this investment will ensure the continuity of our position in central Manitoba as the transportation hub,” said Pallister.
“It’s a great announcement for all of Canada and it’s certainly a great announcement for Portage and district. Not only from a convenience standpoint, from a transportation access standpoint and also from a safety standpoint. Local residents know of far too many examples of very dangerous conditions, slippery conditions. Now (with the) overpass, the likelihood of serious accidents is tremendously reduced.”
The province will be providing $29 million towards this project.
“It’s very difficult to give you a completion date, but we can tell you it’s going to start in ’08. By starting I mean engineering and doing the due diligence that we have to do at the provincial end,” said Lemieux.
The provincial transportation minister also explained the government will need to deal with CN Rail and assess the project environmentally.
“The Asia-Pacific Gateway and Corridor Initiative is an important example of finding concrete measures to contribute to a more productive and competitive economy. I’m confident that what we are celebrating here today is yet another step on the right track towards a stronger, safer and better Canada,” said Toews.
2007 Portage Daily Graphic. All Rights Reserved |
