Province announces $502M in infrastructure work, 2 new bridges

Two new bridges are among the $502 million in infrastructure projects announced by the Manitoba government for the coming year.

Infrastructure MinisterBlainePedersen announced the projects Friday as he released the 2017-18construction tendering schedule.

The province is releasing the list of tenders early to give the construction industry time to prepare for the upcoming building season, he said.

Most of the work involves paving and grading projects across the province, although there are some improvements to intersections.

The bridge projectsinclude new construction as well as upgrades:

• A new bridge along the westbound lanes of the Trans-Canada Highway over the Whitemouth River near Hadashville.
• A new bridge over the Little Morris River on Highway 422, south of Rosenort.
• Continuing rehabilitation work on the Highway 313 bridge over the Winnipeg River at Lac Du Bonnet.

Although it's not on the list for the coming year, Pederson told reporters the provincial government is starting the planning phase of replacing the south Perimeter Highway.

The section of roadway is nearing the end of its useful life and much preparation is needed before a plan to replace it is put in place, he said.

Highlights of the 2017-18 schedule:

Eastern region

• Paving, including grading and base, on five kilometres of the northbound lanes of Highway 75 from St. Jean Baptiste to Morris, cost-shared with the government of Canada.
• Pavement rehabilitation on 25 kilometres of Highway 8 from Highway 27 to Clandeboye Road, west of Selkirk.

South central region

• Paving, including grading and curve realignment, along 15.5 km of Highway 14 from east of Highway 306 at Plum Coulee to Highway 30.
• Paving 16 km of Highway 13 north of Highway 2 in the vicinity of Elm Creek.
• Gravel road restoration at various locations along 8.4 km of Highway 643 from 8.4 km south of Highway 6 to Highway 6 near St. Laurent.
• Gravel road restoration, various locations, along 8.4 km of Highway 227 from Highway 16 to 8.4 km east of Highway 16, west of Oakland.
• Gravel road restoration, various locations, along 30.9 km of Highway 305 from Highway 13 to Highway 3, west of Brunkild.

Southwest region

• Paving including intersection improvements along five km of Highway 3 from the south junction of Highway 34 to Highway 3A in the vicinity of Crystal City.
• Gravel road restoration, various locations, along 21.3 km of Highway 255 from Cromer to Scarth.
• Gravel road restoration, various locations, along four km of Highway 264 from four km east of Highway 476 to Highway 476, west of Rossburn.
• Gravel road restoration, various locations, along 2.4 km of Highway 476 from Highway 16 north, east of Russell.

West central region

• Gravel road restoration, various locations, along 16 km of Highway 481 from Highway 276 to Highway 364, north of Ste. Rose du Lac.
• Paving of 17.4 km of Highway 83 north of Highway 482, south of Roblin.

Northern region

• Paving of 17.6 km of Highway 10 from The Pas to Highway 287.
• Improvements to Highway 280 at various locations near Split Lake.
• Surfacing of 23.2 km of Highway 373 from Minago River to Whiskey Jack.

The $502 million planned for 2017-18 also includes other major projects that have been tendered or where construction has started, such as:

• Grading 21.3 km of the eastbound lanes of the Trans-Canada Highway from Highway 11 (south of Hadashville) to Highway 308 near East Braintree.
• Paving 32 km of the eastbound lanes of the Trans-Canada Highway east of Richer from the Brokenhead River to the Greater Winnipeg Water District Railway, cost-shared with the government of Canada.
• Bridge construction in Brandon over the Assiniboine River on Highway 1A.
• Paving17.5 km of Highway 5 from Highway 366 (Grandview) to 4km east of Highway 583.
• Paving 22.7 km of Highway 6 from north of Woodlands to St. Laurent, cost-shared with the government of Canada.
• Paving 11.6 km of Highway 10 from 4.5 km north of Highway 24 to Highway 16, south of Minnedosa.
• Paving 17 km of Highway 10 from the Flin Flon airport access to the east junction of Highway 10A.
• Paving 4.7 km of Highway 16, in the vicinity of Binscarth, from 0.8 km north of Highway 478 to 1.2 km southeast of Highway 359.
• Interchange construction on the northeast Perimeter Highway at Highway 59.
• Bridge construction over the Plum River on Highway 75, south of Morris, cost-shared with the government of Canada.
• Paving 13.8 km of Highway 83 from Miniota to Highway 355.