Winnipeg | Portage and Main

[optimusREIM]

Originally Posted by wags_in_the_peg

new signage added to re-clad, it's also on east side

Noticed that the other day, looks great!

[neutroniks]

Originally Posted by wags_in_the_peg

new signage added to re-clad, it's also on east side

TIL that Winnipeg has a World Trade Centre. Which makes a LOT of sense to me now because a buddy at the gym told me he works at THE World Trade Center, and I always thought, "how do I see this guy so often if he's commuting back and forth between NYC and Winnipeg?

[Wpg_Guy]

Originally Posted by neutroniks

TIL that Winnipeg has a World Trade Centre. Which makes a LOT of sense to me now because a buddy at the gym told me he works at THE World Trade Center, and I always thought, "how do I see this guy so often if he's commuting back and forth between NYC and Winnipeg?

They were in the old St Boniface City Hall for years, they moved to Portage and Main when the city entered into an agreement to turn the site into the disability village fell through.

[bomberjet]

I kept meaning to post about the signage. Looks like WTC finally found it's huckleberry. But ya it actually does look nice, along with the Chamber of Commerce signage.

Across the street, MMF has removed the large banners on the old BMO building. Looks like the renos out front are moving along.

[WinCitySparky]

I have colleagues working at the MMF project, apparently it’s a logistical nightmare

[borkborkbork]

the "world trade centre" is basically a make-work project for the local francophone policy and public-sector managerial class

[The Jabroni]

Originally Posted by neutroniks

TIL that Winnipeg has a World Trade Centre. Which makes a LOT of sense to me now because a buddy at the gym told me he works at THE World Trade Center, and I always thought, "how do I see this guy so often if he's commuting back and forth between NYC and Winnipeg?

My office connected with them a few years ago to help us get started with doing business overseas, which is pretty much what they do.

They also did an article piece about our company and who we are.

[neutroniks]

Originally Posted by bomberjet

I kept meaning to post about the signage. Looks like WTC finally found it's huckleberry. But ya it actually does look nice, along with the Chamber of Commerce signage.

Across the street, MMF has removed the large banners on the old BMO building. Looks like the renos out front are moving along.

[trueviking]

Cool to see a convenience store that was in the underground has now emerged to the sidewalk.

[borkborkbork]

Originally Posted by trueviking

Cool to see a convenience store that was in the underground has now emerged to the sidewalk.

I only believe this statement 70%, but I think you could easily argue that the best thing for the downtown streetscape would be fewer skywalk and underground connections.

[trueviking]

Ha ha...what's not to believe?! It was under 201. Closed. Now its opening in the Curry Building at the sidewalk.

Obviously, it would be best if the skywalks were never built, but accepting that reality, I have long believed that the solution is to make them completely integrated with the sidewalks...lots of well-marked entrances and exits so pedestrians can seamlessly go between one and the other.

[neutroniks]

Originally Posted by trueviking

Ha ha...what's not to believe?! It was under 201. Closed. Now its opening in the Curry Building at the sidewalk.

Obviously, it would be best if the skywalks were never built, but accepting that reality, I have long believed that the solution is to make them completely integrated with the sidewalks...lots of well-marked entrances and exits so pedestrians can seamlessly go between one and the other.

This. They would be used a lot more if they had direct access. The way points have always been terrible and not obvious, even when you got into the buildings

[wags_in_the_peg]

Originally Posted by trueviking

Ha ha...what's not to believe?! It was under 201. Closed. Now its opening in the Curry Building at the sidewalk.

Obviously, it would be best if the skywalks were never built, but accepting that reality, I have long believed that the solution is to make them completely integrated with the sidewalks...lots of well-marked entrances and exits so pedestrians can seamlessly go between one and the other.

GREAT to see a "new" storefront on Portage, don't get me wrong, but this is not quite a relocation. The one underground in 201 Portage closed Dec 2023, that was 2.5 yrs ago. and ING Market are franchises so this is more of a "NEW" not a relocation.

[trueviking]

why crush my dreams.....

[1ajs]

Originally Posted by trueviking

why crush my dreams.....

[Wpg_Guy]

‘It really speaks to the heart of the city’
Mayor calls Portage and Main reopening a success
Chris Kitching
Thursday, Jun. 25, 2026


RUTH BONNEVILLE / FREE PRESS FILES

Saturday marks the one-year anniversary of the intersection’s reopening to foot traffic.

Mayor Scott Gillingham has hailed the reopening of Portage Avenue and Main Street as a success, nearly a year after the downtown intersection became accessible to pedestrians again.

The future of the underground concourse is still up in the air, while city staff conduct a cost-benefit analysis and consult the owners of the buildings at Portage and Main.

“I’m glad we made the decision to reopen Portage and Main. It’s working well, it looks great,” Gillingham said. “So many people that were opposed to it told me now they’ve changed their mind. They’re glad we did it.”

Saturday marks the one-year anniversary of the intersection’s reopening to foot traffic. Portage and Main had been closed to pedestrians since 1979 as part of a commercial development deal.

“Yes, it’s just an intersection, but it’s an iconic intersection. It really speaks to the heart of the city,” Gillingham said.

“To see people be able to walk across that intersection — use it as pedestrians like they use thousands of other intersections in Winnipeg — I think is an important statement about the future of our city. We’re building, we’re progressing and we’re going to keep going.”

Council voted to get rid of the concrete barricades and redesign the intersection because it was a less costly option, after a staff report in 2024 said it would cost $73 million and cause up to five years of traffic disruption to dig up the road and replace the waterproof membrane that protects the concourse. The work would have to be repeated decades later.

City staff are expected to submit a report about the future of the concourse to council in January 2027. A consultant previously concluded it would cost about $11 million to fully decommission the concourse.

Gillingham said staff are consulting property owners, and looking into whether there are options to address the problem of water getting into the concourse.

He said some of the membrane that was problematic was replaced when the intersection was redesigned for its June 2025 reopening. He did not know how much of the membrane was replaced.

“It may be that now the issue is not as large as it once was, but that’s what staff are looking at,” Gillingham said.

The Building Owners and Managers Association of Manitoba, which represents some buildings linked to the concourse, has advocated for the concourse to stay open.

“It would certainly appear that the vast majority of pedestrian crossings at Portage and Main — particularly during the business day — are still taking place at concourse level,” executive director Tom Thiessen wrote in an email to the Free Press.

“The underground concourse benefits hundreds of thousands of downtown visitors, employees, and residents every year. Our expectation is that the city commits to repairing and maintaining this critical piece of downtown infrastructure.”

Winnipeg Free Press

[Wpg_Guy]

Originally Posted by Wpg_Guy

Gillingham said staff are consulting property owners, and looking into whether there are options to address the problem of water getting into the concourse.

He said some of the membrane that was problematic was replaced when the intersection was redesigned for its June 2025 reopening. He did not know how much of the membrane was replaced.

“It may be that now the issue is not as large as it once was, but that’s what staff are looking at,” Gillingham said.


Winnipeg Free Press

As predicted, the Mayor appears to be slowly pivoting the narrative toward closing the concourse.

[pspeid]

Originally Posted by Wpg_Guy

As predicted, the Mayor appears to be slowly pivoting the narrative toward closing the concourse.

Perhaps the Mayor isn't changing his tune because the businesses still seem to have no intention of ponying up any money for the repairs.

A comment from the "Building Owners and Managers Association of Manitoba":

"Our expectation is that the city commits to repairing and maintaining this critical piece of downtown infrastructure.”

Translation: we expect the city to pay for the whole thing so we can benefit.

[Wpg_Guy]

Originally Posted by pspeid

Perhaps the Mayor isn't changing his tune because the businesses still seem to have no intention of ponying up any money for the repairs.

A comment from the "Building Owners and Managers Association of Manitoba":

"Our expectation is that the city commits to repairing and maintaining this critical piece of downtown infrastructure.”

Translation: we expect the city to pay for the whole thing so we can benefit.

Doesn’t the City have a clear obligation to maintain the infrastructure it owns? The Richardson buildings, 201 Portage, and 360/300 Main have each made substantial investments in their portions of the concourse. These properties contribute millions in property taxes annually those dollars should be used to maintain the city owned concourse.

[bomberjet]

What did the original agreement say?

In general I would say if the City owns it, they need to maintain it. They also have the right to close it. I wouldn't call this underground concourse "critical" to the survival of the City, the way the property owners are. It's an enclosed walkway. They're both still posturing, the City and the property owners.