(AGENPARL) - Roma, 27 Luglio 2023 - (AGENPARL) – gio 27 luglio 2023 [Manitoba Media Notice]
July 27, 2023
Manitoba Government Invests $21.2 Million to
Upgrade Bridges Over Souris River
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Capital Investments at Provincial Trunk Highways 2 and 3
Protect Against Future Flood Events: Piwniuk
Bridge projects over the Souris River at Provincial Trunk Highways (PTH) 2 and 3 are moving ahead, Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Doyle Piwniuk announced today.
“The Manitoba government continues to make record investments in the province’s highways, including bridges, with the vision of ensuring safe, reliable and resilient infrastructure and services for Manitobans and their communities,” said Piwniuk. “These bridge upgrades will protect against future flood events and ensure that the movement of people, goods and services over these highways can continue seamlessly.”
Located near Melita on PTH 3, the bridge over the Souris River is a key commerce route in southwest Manitoba, the minister noted. Over 800 vehicles cross the bridge per day. The PTH 3 bridge will be fully replaced at an estimated total cost of $19.5 million, including engineering and construction, with an expected completion date of summer 2025.
“Safety is a priority for our government. The existing Souris River bridge on PTH 3 was built in 1970 and it has outlived its useful lifespan. Significant flood events in the past have taken their toll,” said Piwniuk. “The new bridge will be more resilient and designed to better handle the impacts of severe flooding and demonstrates our commitment to helping municipalities mitigate the effects of significant weather events.”
The bridge on PTH 2 near Wawanesa was constructed in 1958 and serves as a vital link on the strategic east-west route in southwest Manitoba, the minister said. PTH 2 conveys approximately 2,270 vehicles per day at this location. The PTH 2 bridge upgrades include engineering and river training construction work, which will help provide erosion and scour protection in the waterway to protect this critical highway crossing during major flood events. The construction cost of the project is estimated at $1.7 million with an expected completion date in the spring 2025.
“We are excited to be making progress with these projects. Both are important investments in critical infrastructure that helps support Manitoba’s economy,” said Piwniuk.
The upgrades are part of the Manitoba government’s key investment category of climate resiliency in the 2023 Multi-year Infrastructure Investment Strategy. Climate resiliency projects are undertaken to ensure key infrastructure can withstand the impact of changes to the climate over time, including severe weather events. In particular, bridge infrastructure was targeted for upgrades to improve resiliency and ensure operation during flood events, the minister noted.
For more information on the Manitoba government’s multi-year investment planning, visit https://www.gov.mb.ca/mit/myhis/index.html.
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For more information:
– Public information, contact Manitoba Government Inquiry: 1-866-626-4862 or 204-945-3744.
– Media requests for ministerial comment, contact Communications and Stakeholder Relations: 204-451-7109.