Falcon Lake four-lane ‘definitely on our radar’: Schuler

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This article was published 09/12/2021 (1248 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Infrastructure Minister Ron Schuler says twinning the Trans-Canada Highway to the Ontario border is a priority for his department, but cooperation from Ottawa and Queen’s Park is a must.

“We’ve been waiting to see what Ontario was going to do,” Schuler said Friday by phone.

“Now that they’ve formally made their announcement, what we’re asking for Ontario is to see what their plan is going forward.”

On Nov. 19, Ontario Transportation Minister Caroline Mulroney announced her department had signed contracts with two local First Nations who will clear brush and prepare road base for the three-phase twinning of Highway 17 from the Ontario border to the Kenora bypass.

Neither Schuler nor Lac du Bonnet MLA Wayne Ewasko were present for the announcement at the border, which was attended by Provencher MP Ted Falk.

On Nov. 25, a Manitoba government spokesperson said there were no immediate plans to twin the two-lane stretch from Falcon Lake to the Ontario border. Manitoba Infrastructure is busy upgrading the Perimeter Highway, developing a trade and commerce grid, and completing floodproofing projects, the spokesperson explained.

Schuler said that statement didn’t paint the whole picture.

“This is definitely on our radar, it is definitely something we would like to see completed,” he said. “Highway 1 should be twinned from sea to shining sea.”

Schuler said his department has yet to see a firm timeline or blueprints from Ontario, and doesn’t know whether the highway at the border will be widened to the left or to the right.

“They could shift it over 10 feet, they could shift it over 500 yards,” Schuler explained.

Manitoba can’t begin its planning until Ontario shares more information, Schuler said.

Manitoba has about 17 kilometres of highway to twin, compared to Ontario’s 63 kilometres.

Schuler said crews in Ontario have a ton of work ahead of them.

“They have some real serious blasting they’re going to be doing over the next few years.”

Schuler said it was too early to know how much the Manitoba project would cost, but said roadwork proceed from west to east and require federal funding.

“We would love to see the federal government weigh in on this one and take some responsibility for Highway number one.”