Strain had been involved in trying to get some changes made since April of 2018. He had spoken to and emailed members of MIT, and most recently, on July 8, he and other residents in the area, Boissevain-Morton Head of Council Judy Swanson and Arthur Virden MLA Doyle Piwniuk met with Provincial officials on the issue. Strain said they wanted to meet with him, but he wanted everyone involved. He added MIT went through several different scenarios, but settled on changing the approach on the hill.
According to the government of Manitoba, the issue on the hill is related to the location of the access driveways and potential conflict between turning and through traffic. MIT is planning to construct an auxiliary southbound through lane, which allows a “refuge area for left turning vehicles.”
As they explained, the lane as it existed prior to renovations was very short and did not meet current standards. The taper of the climbing lane was used by landowners as an auxilliary lane to complete turning movements. However, they added driving behaviour by through traffic has led to a number of near misses for those turning. Topography makes it difficult to move accesses to a different location, but adding an auxiliary lane will provide a solution.
The work will include widening and paving. Strain mentioned the idea of dropping the speed limit in the area. If it continued on with the 80km zone as it is just south of Boissevain until it reached the Boissevain Golf Course, he felt it would help the situation. As of now, the Province is keeping the posted speed as is, but Manitoba Infrastructure is planning to monitor the situation once the work is completed and reassess afterward.
The Province is planning to meet with local landowners and the municipality, with the intention to advertise the work this year. If all goes according to plan, including contractor schedule and weather, they would do construction this fall.
Strain said he is happy something is being done with the situation. It has been a long road, as originally he was told nothing could be accomplished, but after long discussions, the road south of town should be a little safer.
“It is a step,” Strain stated. “They have agreed to do something, and hopefully it gets done before something bad happens.”
by PAUL RAYNER, Recorder staff