Manitoba | Highways

[bomberjet]

Originally Posted by BorealLynx

Does this suggest whether the project would be done all at once or in stages?

Suggests all at once.

[BorealLynx]

Originally Posted by bomberjet

Suggests all at once.

Even though it's not a long stretch by some measures, that will be a massive undertaking as a single project, especially if they plan to twin the existing routing. I can foresee some major traffic disruptions over the construction period (4 years?!), and Barren Lake is going to be interesting. And I don't see the existing interchanges as being really functional in a "twinnable" sense; I suspect these will be more of brand new builds (with some salvaging) than "reconstruction". Let's not forget that this part of the TCH is effectively a bottleneck for ALL east-west trans-Canadian traffic (no one in their right mind would consider PTH44 as a viable alternative, especially for commercial traffic).

[bomberjet]

That would be an advantage of the northern route. Building either 1 or both sets of lanes completely separate from the existing. But yes, construction delays will be a thing. Even on the existing route they can build the new set of lanes, then transfer traffic over there while upgrading the current set of lanes.

From my point of view the interchanges will be rebuilt basically new.

[Dengler Avenue]

Originally Posted by BorealLynx

Even though it's not a long stretch by some measures, that will be a massive undertaking as a single project, especially if they plan to twin the existing routing. I can foresee some major traffic disruptions over the construction period (4 years?!), and Barren Lake is going to be interesting. And I don't see the existing interchanges as being really functional in a "twinnable" sense; I suspect these will be more of brand new builds (with some salvaging) than "reconstruction". Let's not forget that this part of the TCH is effectively a bottleneck for ALL east-west trans-Canadian traffic (no one in their right mind would consider PTH44 as a viable alternative, especially for commercial traffic).

You’re from Kenora. Have you already forgotten how contractors staged traffic while twinning Highway 17 near the border?

[BorealLynx]

Originally Posted by Dengler Avenue

You’re from Kenora. Have you already forgotten how contractors staged traffic while twinning Highway 17 near the border?

Whoever managed that project actually did a really good job mitigating traffic disruptions. I hope they do the same with the Whiteshell twinning project.

And yes, I am from Kenora. I can still remember when Greg Rickford (our Provincial MPP) boldly announced at the start of the project that the ENTIRE twinning project from Kenora to the MB border would be completed in 2025. Hah! There are crickets on the next stages of this generation-long project; the last we have is this tidbit from WSP which was updated in July of 2025:

https://4lanehighway17kenora.ca/

And MTI's timeline for the TCH twinning through the Whiteshell is 8 years!!

My conclusion: things don't move particularly fast in these remote parts of Ontario or Manitoba!

[bomberjet]

MTI has actually been doing a decent job of creating a plan and following through, over the last decade or so. Hopefully that continues on with this project. The study timelines, and consultation periods, do take forever I'll admit (it's my job). haha

[Dengler Avenue]

Originally Posted by BorealLynx

Whoever managed that project actually did a really good job mitigating traffic disruptions. I hope they do the same with the Whiteshell twinning project.

And yes, I am from Kenora. I can still remember when Greg Rickford (our Provincial MPP) boldly announced at the start of the project that the ENTIRE twinning project from Kenora to the MB border would be completed in 2025. Hah! There are crickets on the next stages of this generation-long project; the last we have is this tidbit from WSP which was updated in July of 2025:

https://4lanehighway17kenora.ca/

And MTI's timeline for the TCH twinning through the Whiteshell is 8 years!!

My conclusion: things don't move particularly fast in these remote parts of Ontario or Manitoba!

There’s probably some holdup on the part of the FN’s and/or the provincial government. The current Ontario conservative government isn’t exactly great when it comes to negotiating with FN’s.

[Hockey]

Originally Posted by bomberjet

PTH 101 Functional Design Report posted to the project information website.
https://www.gov.mb.ca/mti/projects_manag...er_functional_design_project_summary.pdf

No substantial change to the recommended options from before. Sequencing though is added.

As expected its basically Pipeline, then Dugald. Then it's the major project of McPhillips through Henderson. $1 billion project.

Thanks for sharing Bomber.

I said it before, I wish the PTH101 NB at PTH6 had a high speed ramp to for transport trucks. With Churchill Plus rumours of federal funding and potential Churchill all season road, the system interchange 101/6 would be cool. Add a sign ,journey to he north.

Is there an analogous sequence map for the South Perimeter after McGillvray and then St. Anne’s?

[bomberjet]

I don't think so. IIRC its not Kenaston after Dte Anne's. Believe someone on SSP said that.

[Biff]

For the south Perimeter I believe the plan is:

McGillivray/3 - underway now
Red River Crossing
St Anne's

Kenaston grade separation is associated with the St Norbert Bypass. My understanding is that an interchange wont happen until the bypass gets funding.

[optimusREIM]

Originally Posted by Biff

For the south Perimeter I believe the plan is:

McGillivray/3 - underway now
Red River Crossing
St Anne's

Kenaston grade separation is associated with the St Norbert Bypass. My understanding is that an interchange wont happen until the bypass gets funding.

Chop chop MB government!

[Carboy15]

Originally Posted by bomberjet

PTH 101 Functional Design Report posted to the project information website.
https://www.gov.mb.ca/mti/projects_manag...er_functional_design_project_summary.pdf

No substantial change to the recommended options from before. Sequencing though is added.

As expected its basically Pipeline, then Dugald. Then it's the major project of McPhillips through Henderson. $1 billion project.

Between McPhillips and Henderson, it appears that they'd be completely rebuilding the Highway from scratch almost. The Bridge over the Red River is very old, so they'll rebuilt it as opposed to retrofit extra lanes. They'll also add collector lanes between Main and Henderson. But then it appears they'll be ripping up the entire Main Interchange and build a brand new overpass over the CP Winnipeg Beach Sub and Main Street. Very expensive, but good idea to make Main and CP Winnipeg Beach a overpass because it would prevent flooding on the Perimeter.

I'm kinda picky that they'd choose Pipeline over Dugald Road first. Yes, Pipeline should be done, but Dugald needs to be done to get the CN Mainline crossing grade seperated. The CN Mainline should have an overpass first considering Plessis and Waverley got them within the past 10 years. But I'm sure they chose the Brookside to Henderson Segment first because it probably has higher traffic volumes than the Perimeter between Fermor and Lagimodiere North.

[Biff]

The thing about Pipeline is that it is the last signalized intersection between Hwy 6 and Wenzel. The back-up because of that light during rush hour are immense. Probably the largest on the Perimeter.

Dugald on the east side, is a bigger project due to the rail line and you still have lights at Gunn and Wenzel.

So you get more bang for your buck in doing Pipeline first.

[bomberjet]

Pipeline is super annoying because I pass everyone then we all get stopped at Pipeline..

[bomberjet]

The PTH 101 Red River bridge would probably be staged like this. They build 2 new structures on the north and south sides for the collector lanes. Detour the current traffic pattern over to that. Then rehab the existing bridge. Like keep the piers, and build a new 6 lane superstructure. They're reconfiguring the Main St over pass to accommodate the rail overpass. They both need to go over or both under. There was an RFP in ~2015 to re-route that track elsewhere but it was never awarded.

But IIRC there was already a project on the books for that PTH 101 bridge, so maybe they do the rehab ahead of time. The PTH 100 bridge is being rehab sometime sooner.

[Wpgstvsouth94]

Originally Posted by bomberjet

The PTH 101 Red River bridge would probably be staged like this. They build 2 new structures on the north and south sides for the collector lanes. Detour the current traffic pattern over to that. Then rehab the existing bridge. Like keep the piers, and build a new 6 lane superstructure. They're reconfiguring the Main St over pass to accommodate the rail overpass. They both need to go over or both under. There was an RFP in ~2015 to re-route that track elsewhere but it was never awarded.

But IIRC there was already a project on the books for that PTH 101 bridge, so maybe they do the rehab ahead of time. The PTH 100 bridge is being rehab sometime sooner.

Is there a plan for the one on the south perimeter? Are they going to widen it and make it less congested? kind of like retrofitting it for the ultimate plan?

[Carboy15]

Originally Posted by Biff

The thing about Pipeline is that it is the last signalized intersection between Hwy 6 and Wenzel. The back-up because of that light during rush hour are immense. Probably the largest on the Perimeter.

Dugald on the east side, is a bigger project due to the rail line and you still have lights at Gunn and Wenzel.

So you get more bang for your buck in doing Pipeline first.

Since the Road between Hwy 6 to 59 is (almost) a freeway, it makes sense to make one full segment of the Perimeter a freeway. Therefore if Pipeline gets grade seperated, have one overpass going over Main and CP Winnipeg Beach, relocate CP Arborg Sub, the Perimeter Highway between Wenzel Rd and PTH 6 would be the first part of the Perimeter you could consider a freeway. Well, Hwy 6 to McGillvary would be a freeway too once the McGillvary Interchange is built, and if the CEMR line gets relocated. The South Perimeter and East Perimeter would be considered the Non-Freeway portions (or freeway in bits) as of now.

But yeah, Wenzel and Gunn Road aren't too bad for now as they didn't even need recieve traffic signals until recently. Pipeline's traffic signals have been there for quite a long time. Dugald Road wasn't really that busy until Dugald and Oakbank started building up as bedroom towns. I think until the past 15 years, Dugald MB was a small village. Oakbank has always been a town, but its now sprawling too.

[WildCake]

Originally Posted by Wpgstvsouth94

Is there a plan for the one on the south perimeter? Are they going to widen it and make it less congested? kind of like retrofitting it for the ultimate plan?

I don't think that level of detail has been released yet, but the south perimeter design study doesn't call for C/D lanes like the North Perimeter, just an ultimate stage design of three lanes in each direction. Spacing between Pembina and St Mary's is not as tight as Main and Henderson.

For the 100 Red River crossing, I'd imagine they'd at least put in the pier width and girders for a 3rd lane in this upcoming reconstruction because like you said, it's congested and the entirety of the Perimeter is being reconstructed for eventual 3 lanes in each direction. If that happens it would then be very easy to add a 3rd lane between Pembina and St Mary's immediately afterwards.

I agree the bridges do get quite congested as it is. I do think some of the blame goes on driver testing quality. I'm a regular driver through there and I'm finding it quite frustrating the amount of overly cautious or inexperienced drivers that cause unnecessary congestion by being well under the speed limit with no adverse conditions, or camping in the left lane slower than the flow of traffic.

[WildCake]

Originally Posted by Biff

Kenaston grade separation is associated with the St Norbert Bypass. My understanding is that an interchange wont happen until the bypass gets funding.

The South Perimeter study had an interim interchange plan (parclo I believe?) for Kenaston without the bypass, with the design being such that it wouldn't be a huge reconfiguration once the bypass actually gets built.

Although you seem to have an in with a lot of key people in the industry so if you've heard that the province will explicitly skip the interim step and go right to bypass + interchange then I stand corrected.

[jim_bred]

The pipeline overpass can't be done soon enough.