The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Most of Manitoba's winter roads serving northern and remote communities are now operational for the 2004 season, Transportation and Government Services Minister Ron Lemieux has announced. Lemieux noted that, since 1999, spending on the seasonal road system has tripled, with the aim of using more overland routes, improving safety, allowing the roads to stay open longer each season, reducing construction difficulties and addressing environmental concerns. To achieve these objectives, the province has identified a number of strategies, including the relocation of existing winter roads, the construction of new roads as well as upgrading existing winter and forestry roads, and exploring enhanced rail and ferry services. Winter roads opened to full loading include: Bloodvein, Berens River, Poplar River, Oxford House, God's Lake Narrows, Thicket Portage, Pikwitonei, York Landing, Ilford, Brochet and Lac Brochet, as well as the Seafalls and Pipestone crossings. Roads into South Indian Lake and from Pukatawagan to Kississing Lake are now open, with some weight restrictions in place. Most of the remaining roads are progressing with the projected opening dates expected by early February, weather conditions permitting. The winter road system, the majority of which is funded jointly with the federal government, is managed and monitored by the province. The construction and maintenance work is generally contracted out to the communities involved, creating local employment opportunities. The $5.8 million annual budget includes construction and maintenance of the system during the season, which typically begins in January and ends in mid-March each year. The seasonal road system serves approximately 38,000 Manitobans in 28 communities not served by permanent roads and spans a total length of 2,174 kilometres. The winter road system provides for lower cost transportation of bulk goods to remote communities and inter-community travel in northern Manitoba for about an eight-week period every year.
