April 14, 2010

Manitoba to build all-season road around Lake Winnipeg

RICHARD GILBERT

staff writer

Remote aboriginal communities on the east side of Lake Winnipeg will soon benefit from the construction of an all season road that will transport supplies and facilitate economic development.

“As far as the industry is concerned this is a win-win,” said Manitoba Heavy Construction director Stan Kruse.

“We have met with the East Side Road Authority and see mutual benefit in this project for both business and the local communities. The lake region is the only place in the world with such a large population that doesn’t have an all weather road.”

The Manitoba government is investing $72.5-million to build a 160-kilometre road from Manigotagan to Bloodvein First Nation and Berens River First Nation.

As part of the East Side Transportation Initiative, the new investment will go toward the ongoing work of the Manitoba Floodway and East Side Road Authority (MFESRA). The authority’s mandate was expanded in 2009 from managing the expansion of the Red River Floodway to include the construction and maintenance of an all-season road on the east side of Lake Winnipeg.

“In a little over one year, a significant amount of work has been undertaken on the all-season road project,” said MFESRA CEO Ernie Gilroy.

“This includes filing an environmental impact assessment for the PR 304 to Berens River all-season road project, proceeding with the large area transportation network study and signing community benefits agreements with east-side communities.”

The authority is also working to ensure local east side communities develop the capacity to participate in the construction of the all-season road through community benefits agreements (CBAs) with five First Nation communities.

“Right now we have a few crushing operations that are manufacturing the road base and aggregate material,” said Kruse. “We have also done a significant amount of training with the Poplar River, Berens River and Bloodvein First Nations.”

Under the CBAs, 32 local residents have been offered basic construction and skilled-labour training.

As the project proceeds, training will include heavy equipment operation related to gravel crushing, right-of-way clearing and road construction.

Construction is expected to begin in the fall of 2010, once environmental approval is received. The road will cost between $300 million and $500 million, depending on the final design. It is scheduled for completion by 2014.

Upgrading and maintenance work is currently underway on the existing Rice River Road, as well as a study to examine potential transportation infrastructure improvements for the remainder of the region. The study is expected to be complete by the end of 2010.

The initiative aims to improve transportation infrastructure for the 36,000 residents who live in the remote and isolated communities on the east side of Lake Winnipeg.

In addition to providing building materials and food to isolated communities, the road might open up tourism opportunities. Mining companies may also be interested in the opportunities raised by a regional road network.

Other benefits of an east side road network include improved access to emergency, health and social services and better links between communities within the region.

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