WINNIPEG – The province has released its South Perimeter Design Study.

“Our government’s first priority is the safety of Manitobans on our roads and we want to make the South Perimeter safer and easier to travel for the approximately 30,000 vehicles that drive it every day,” said Infrastructure Minister Ron Schuler. “We’ve set out to do substantive work to address safety and operational problems, and this study will serve as our blueprint for the next 20 to 30 years.”

The study outlines two phases of changes. The initial stage, designed to accommodate forecasted 2048 traffic levels, will include upgrading the highway to a four lane divided freeway and improving the structure, interchanges and bridges. The final stage will include upgrading to a six lane divided freeway, reconfiguring the existing highway and constructing new interchanges where necessary.

Projects approved for design and construction in the next year include:

• St. Mary’s Road interchange (construction to start in late 2021);

• service road at Aimes Road and Melnick Road (construction to start in 2021);

• West Perimeter Highway service road from Wilkes Avenue to Oakland Road (construction to start in late 2020); and

• Brady Road service road (construction started in June 2020).