Article in today's Freep about the intersection and how an interchange was scheduled to be built there in 2007, design was finalized, funding was in place and then "today's" NDP (as they liked to call themselves then) kiboshed the project for reasons only they know!
Residents demand action after deadly highway intersection claims more lives
https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/lo...442077203.html
for those who can't get past the paywall here is an excerpt:
It turns out there were plans for an interchange to be built in 2007, but they fell through. At the time, the provincial and federal governments both announced plans to invest in infrastructure in the region.
"It was discussed. There were fairly detailed plans. There was a big announcement and they said they had money set aside, but nothing was ever built," Portage Mayor Irvine Ferris said.
A spokesman for the province confirmed Monday plans for an interchange at the intersection were "announced in 2007, however it was not completed," although he gave no indication as to why.
"Well that’s the question that needs to be answered. What happened?" Ferris said.
Stoplights 'clearly not working'
The speed limit on the highway was also raised to 110 kilometres an hour, up from 100, which Ferris said increases the need for an interchange.