Manitoba Highways

[Corndogger]

Originally Posted by esquire

^ Good stuff, but it's routine maintenance...

Very small amount as well. Does MB not have any major projects ready to go? This is the time to be doing such work as costs will likely never be lower.

[jmt18325]

Originally Posted by Corndogger

Very small amount as well. Does MB not have any major projects ready to go? This is the time to be doing such work as costs will likely never be lower.

You think of this from an Alberta perspective. This isn't Alberta. $150M is actually a pretty large amount here.

[VANRIDERFAN]

Originally Posted by jmt18325

https://news.gov.mb.ca/news/?archive=&item=48556

Lots of work as part of the restart program.

Holy Shyte! Highway 23 getting a repaving!!!! Huzzah!!!

[jmt18325]

Originally Posted by VANRIDERFAN

Holy Shyte! Highway 23 getting a repaving!!!! Huzzah!!!

It sounds like it's also up for a grade widening to bring it up to modern standards.

[Corndogger]

Originally Posted by jmt18325

You think of this from an Alberta perspective. This isn't Alberta. $150M is actually a pretty large amount here.

I'm thinking of it from a realistic perspective. $150 million is a very small amount even for MB. SK is going to be investing billions into restarting their economy so why can't MB do something similar?

[plrh]

Originally Posted by Corndogger

I'm thinking of it from a realistic perspective. $150 million is a very small amount even for MB. SK is going to be investing billions into restarting their economy so why can't MB do something similar?

It's already a busy construction year for civil contractors. Anything bigger would just go to contractors from Alberta or Ontario. So why would Manitobans subsidize them?

Also the St. Mary's overpass is still a year away from tendering and then 3 more years for construction. It would be tough to put the money up now when it won't be felt for a long time. Especially since many Manitobans are generally optimistic about covid and have been spared most of the economic pain.

[jmt18325]

Originally Posted by Corndogger

I'm thinking of it from a realistic perspective. $150 million is a very small amount even for MB. SK is going to be investing billions into restarting their economy so why can't MB do something similar?

Well first, Saskatchewan has far more money than Manitoba. Second, Manitoba hasn't had the same drop in economic activity.

[Corndogger]

Originally Posted by jmt18325

Well first, Saskatchewan has far more money than Manitoba. Second, Manitoba hasn't had the same drop in economic activity.

Based on years of comments in this thread and others in the MB/SK forum there's a huge need for major spending on highway infrastructure in MB. Maybe if you guys did some investing you'd have has much money as SK.

[Corndogger]

Originally Posted by plrh

It's already a busy construction year for civil contractors. Anything bigger would just go to contractors from Alberta or Ontario. So why would Manitobans subsidize them?

Also the St. Mary's overpass is still a year away from tendering and then 3 more years for construction. It would be tough to put the money up now when it won't be felt for a long time. Especially since many Manitobans are generally optimistic about covid and have been spared most of the economic pain.

Three years to build an overpass? That alone is reason enough to bring in outside firms.

[plrh]

Originally Posted by Corndogger

Three years to build an overpass? That alone is reason enough to bring in outside firms.

We aren't building new. Detour construction and removal adds a year. Also subgrade compaction adds time here because it typically needs to be dried to get optimum moisture content. Places with granular soils don't have to worry about that as much.

[harls]

Originally Posted by VANRIDERFAN

Holy Shyte! Highway 23 getting a repaving!!!! Huzzah!!!

It should have been redone when Pharrell's Happy was repeated ad nauseum on the radio.

[Corndogger]

Originally Posted by plrh

We aren't building new. Detour construction and removal adds a year. Also subgrade compaction adds time here because it typically needs to be dried to get optimum moisture content. Places with granular soils don't have to worry about that as much.

Is this the project in question?

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manit...road-1.5631187

I'm not seeing an existing interchange in place so just exactly what needs to be removed?

[plrh]

Originally Posted by Corndogger

Is this the project in question?

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manit...road-1.5631187

I'm not seeing an existing interchange in place so just exactly what needs to be removed?

The detour

[VANRIDERFAN]

Originally Posted by harls

It should have been redone when Pharrell's Happy was repeated ad nauseum on the radio.

18 was supposed to get upgraded last year. But my sources there say that they only put in new culverts.

[wave46]

Originally Posted by Corndogger

Based on years of comments in this thread and others in the MB/SK forum there's a huge need for major spending on highway infrastructure in MB. Maybe if you guys did some investing you'd have has much money as SK.

Sure, highway improvements will definitely cause Manitoba to fall ass-backward into a pile of oil.

I don't really see how resurfacing a bunch of highways and building interchanges suddenly makes Manitoba's GDP jump, aside from the initial construction phase.

[CoryB]

Originally Posted by Corndogger

I'm not seeing an existing interchange in place so just exactly what needs to be removed?

Typically the project goes like this:

1 - build the detour routes for the project as net new roads
2 - remove the current roads
3 - build the interchange
4 - remove the detours

It is common for these grade separations to have slight changes in road alignment. Even if they don't the over road doesn't build an approach on top of an existing roadway.

[drew]

Originally Posted by wave46

Sure, highway improvements will definitely cause Manitoba to fall ass-backward into a pile of oil.

I don't really see how resurfacing a bunch of highways and building interchanges suddenly makes Manitoba's GDP jump, aside from the initial construction phase.

Maybe they will find the oil or some potash while they are excavating for these new highways.

Saskatchewan waited until the money from these sorts of commodities was in the bank before they went on their road building spree - but I don't see why Manitoba can't do the reverse. We can be trend setters! Or maybe it's a build it and they will come highway-of-dreams sort of thing.

[jmt18325]

Originally Posted by VANRIDERFAN

18 was supposed to get upgraded last year. But my sources there say that they only put in new culverts.

That's usually the first step in a multi year project.

[jmt18325]

Originally Posted by Corndogger

Based on years of comments in this thread and others in the MB/SK forum there's a huge need for major spending on highway infrastructure in MB. Maybe if you guys did some investing you'd have has much money as SK.

I mean, there has been (was) a massive increase in spending. In 2005 we spent something like $150M per year on highways. Up until recently, that had gone up to $700M per year. The PCs have since halved that over their time in government. They had to do this to pay for their decrease to the PST.

[Corndogger]

Originally Posted by wave46

Sure, highway improvements will definitely cause Manitoba to fall ass-backward into a pile of oil.

I don't really see how resurfacing a bunch of highways and building interchanges suddenly makes Manitoba's GDP jump, aside from the initial construction phase.

A good highway system makes you more competitive. For example, companies are not going to set up major distribution centers if they have to deal with subpar roads riddled with traffic lights.