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Manitoba’s winter road network is again open.
The announcement by Manitoba Infrastructure and Transportation means that our approximately 2,200-kilometre network of winter roads is now open for business.
How important is the winter road network to the North? Each year more than 2,500 shipments of needed supplies such as food and fuel are trucked to the in the Northern communities served by winter roads. Thousands of Northerners use the winter roads for access
The typical winter road season lasts eight to 12 weeks, ending in March. The system serves approximately 30,000 Manitobans in 23 communities in areas where there are no permanent roads. In short the roads are absolutely critical to Northern Manitoba.
The winter road network is also an important priority to our provincial government. When I became minister of highways in 1999, I worked with my colleagues to invest in our winter road system. Since that time spending on the winter road system has tripled,
We have expanded the winter road network into new communities. We have made capital investments on bridges and other structures that increase the length of the winter road season. We have also moved to winter roads that use overland routes. Since 2001, more than 25 per cent or about 600 kilometres of the system has been moved from lakes, rivers and creeks onto land. This improves safety, allowing the roads to stay open longer each season, reducing construction difficulties and addressing environmental concerns.
As MLA for Thompson, I make the point of travelling on the winter road network every year. I see firsthand the importance of this vital link. I also can’t say enough about the work of the many contractors and their employees from throughout the North that work so hard to open and maintain the roads every year.
Over the next few weeks I will be once again back travelling on the winter roads. My message will be clear. As minister of transportation I will be making it clear that winter roads will continue to be a priority as we move to expand the all weather road network in Manitoba.
