10 hours ago
Pedestrians reclaim Portage and Main as Winnipeg reopens the famed intersection after 46 years
History books will show that Winnipeg Mayor Scott Gillingham was the first pedestrian in more than four decades to traverse between Portage Avenue and Main Street, finally reopening what is widely known as the crossroads of Canada to foot traffic after years of fervent debate.
Well, kind of. Many others have routinely jaywalked across the downtown thoroughfares since 1979, when barricades were erected to prioritize the free flow of cars and trucks. People on foot have since been crossing illegally or using an underground concourse beneath the 16 lanes of traffic at the famed intersection, proximate to the longitudinal centre of the country.
But on Friday, hundreds of eager residents beat Mr. Gillingham to his preplanned photo-op moment. With the buttery midmorning sun spotlighting their path, shrouds over the new walk signals were lifted, and the mayor became just one among a crowd of many to legally cross the road when the last remaining barriers were removed.
He marked the occasion, as music blared, with a healthy dose of classically Winnipeg-flavoured sardonicism.
'When I was a kid growing up, playing hockey, idolizing Dale Hawerchuk, I dreamed of having my own press conference at Portage and Main,' Mr. Gillingham said to roaring laughter.
'This is very special,' he continued cheekily, speaking from a podium facing the intersection while pompoms were thrown in the air. 'Today, we're putting an end to 46 years of debating whether or not people should be allowed to cross the street.'
On a more serious note, Mr. Gillingham acknowledged that getting to this point wasn't easy. The reopening has long been opposed by both city councillors and residents.
'We know that there's still more work to do. Work to improve safety, work to address homelessness, and work to drive economic growth downtown,' he said. 'But making the intersections more accessible and more connected helps move us in the right direction for everyone.'
In fact, Mr. Gillingham himself was opposed to the reopening for years as a city councillor. He even stood against it during his 2022 mayoral election campaign.
In 2018, his predecessor, Brian Bowman, had promised a reopening. But he backtracked after two-thirds of Winnipeggers (most of whom were from the city's suburbs) voted against it in a non-binding plebiscite.
Ultimately, Mr. Gillingham's 180 about putting pedestrians back on the streets was a practical decision. Last year, a city report indicated that the intersection's underground concourse was significantly prone to leakage – costing around $73-million to repair, with up to five years of construction-induced traffic delays.
The mayor told reporters he didn't have a definitive date to shutter the concourse, or a decision on whether it would be permanently or partially closed. While he spoke, Haley Yurman, who works at local coffee chain Empty Cup, one of several businesses housed in the underground walkway, waved a sign behind him: 'Still brewing one level down.' Ms. Yurman said she is unsure if her café will need to relocate.
On Friday, dozens of long-standing community advocates showed up in full force to celebrate the milestone. Over the years, they had initiated campaign upon campaign to fight against urban planning that puts cars before people.
Many drivers honk-honk-honked in support, as people took selfies atop the newly-established pedestrian refuge islands at the four corners of the intersection. Some commuters, however, honked out of anger, cussing at the event's attendees from their car and truck windows.
'I really never thought I'd see this in my lifetime. There's been so much resistance,' said Martina Kucey, shortly after making a jaunt across the walkways with her golden retrievers, Carter and Bishop.
'But here it is. It's finally happened. And I never want to see it go away.'
