Winnipeg drivers facing frustration as construction season gets underway
June is still a few days away, but barricades and frustrated drivers are already lining Winnipeg streets with road construction season well underway.
The City of Winnipeg says the repairs are necessary and crews need to get as much done as possible while the weather is good.
'We have a short window in our climate to get at it and to get it done and so we're trying to get going as early as we can,' said Michelle Stainton, a project management engineer with the city.
In the 2025 budget, the city earmarked $169 million for roads.
The plan is to do around 150 lane kilometres -- sixty of those are regional and major streets, the rest are local.
The city says the work needs to be done to keep up with repairs and maintain roads.
'We're trying to get into a lot of places, so it is a lot more than if we throw all our money at reconstruction and we would never catch up and it would cost a whole lot more,' Stainton said.
However, many drivers don't want to hear it, saying they are dealing with brutal conditions and long travel times.
The city says it knows navigating through the lane closures is frustrating, but it reminds drivers to keep their cool and remember the people on the roadside
'This is their workplace and the people who are actually out there working are not the decision makers that got you into the place that you are,' Stainton said.
The city says it notifies businesses about upcoming construction and attempts to work with them on the timing of the projects.
As for commuters, it recommends planning trips using maps and apps to help you avoid the bottlenecks.
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