Richmond Avenue upgrade going full bore
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Construction on Richmond Avenue in Brandon is expected to wrap up by the end of the summer, the province said.
Provincial crews have been working to upgrade the pothole-filled road for the past couple of weeks, closing some intersections and making access to area businesses more difficult.
The work is taking place on a 1.6-kilometre stretch between Second and 18th streets, at a cost of $5.97 million.
A dump truck feeds hot asphalt into a pacing machine that spreads it evenly along the right lane of westbound Richmond Avenue on Tuesday afternoon. The work is taking place on a 1.6-kilometre stretch between Second and 18th streets, at a cost of $5.97 million. (Matt Goerzen/The Brandon Sun)
Richmond Avenue was voted as the province’s fifth worst road in CAA Manitoba’s Worst Roads campaign earlier this year. It was also voted the ninth worst in 2025 and tied for the 10th worst in 2024.
Brandon Mayor Jeff Fawcett told the Sun on Wednesday that the city is really happy the province is making progress on the key artery.
He said the city has worked closely with Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Lisa Naylor on a number of issues, including the province moving up work on 18th Street, which in 2024 was voted the province’s worst road. Construction on that thoroughfare was completed last year.
He said work on First Street is also in the queue to be repaired in the future.
In a statement Wednesday, Naylor said the province was well aware of the public’s discontent with the condition of Richmond Avenue.
“We know the people of Brandon have been voicing their concerns on the state of Richmond Avenue and the work to address these issues has been underway for some time,” Naylor said. “We are moving ahead with these improvements to make roadways safer, more reliable and better able to serve Manitoba communities for years to come.”
Businesses on the affected part of Richmond Avenue are coping with the disruption.
Boston Pizza assistant general manager Torrie Grindle said her location is doing well, despite the construction.
“It’s actually going pretty well. We are still getting a lot of customers. We’re pretty busy during the day and for supper as well,” Grindle said.
She said the location has posted an update to its Facebook page, directing drivers to use 13th Street and Ottawa Avenue toward the back of the location instead of the main entrance.
She said getting to work, however, “is pretty difficult.”
“I know some of the customers have said that the construction is pretty crazy and everything, but I think if they really want Boston Pizza, they’ll find a way into the parking lot,” Grindle said.
“Last year was about the same quantity of people coming in around this time. So yeah, I don’t think the construction has really hit us yet.”
Despite having to time when to leave for work and some staff arriving a few minutes later than normal, she said the construction was needed, especially for westbound lanes.
» alambert@brandonsun.com, with files from Connor McDowell