Highway projects still to be announced

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This article was published 04/04/2024 (910 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Upgrades to crumbling road infrastructure in and around Brandon were not specifically mentioned in Tuesday’s provincial budget, but the province says road projects in Westman this year are yet to be announced.

A spokesperson for Finance Minister Adrien Sala told the Sun by email on Wednesday that this year’s budget includes funding to complete the final work on the Daly Overpass and that the boost to municipal funding will allow communities to take care of their own infrastructure.

“Other specific highway and road projects in Westman will be announced as projects go to tender or contracts are awarded. We are committed to working in partnership with municipalities to rebuild and maintain our shared infrastructure,” the spokesperson wrote.

Reached by phone on Wednesday, Brandon Mayor Jeff Fawcett said the city has some work on underground utilities to complete on 18th Street this spring.

“Once we get that work done, it has been in their (the province’s) budget previously to try to get some work done on 18th Street,” Fawcett said.

“If we can get our underground work done and work with the province, best-case scenario, we can time stuff out for work this year.”

Otherwise, Fawcett said he hoped work on the street could be started early next spring. When it comes to other infrastructure, the mayor said he approved of the $4-million funding boost to the Water Services Board and that Brandon would apply for grants from it.

In a phone interview, Brandon West Progressive Conservative MLA Wayne Balcaen expressed displeasure with the infrastructure elements in the budget.

“When we look at this budget, and the cut $163 million from roads and water infrastructure, where are we?” Balcaen asked. “Where’s the help for Brandon in our provincial roadways? Is it going to be offloaded to the city?”

Documents for the 2024-25 budget show $540 million allocated for capital assets like highways, bridges, airport runways and water control structures, compared to $703.4 million in 2023-24.

Tuesday’s budget release also showed a decrease in funding for emergency expenditures related to natural disasters like forest fires and flooding from $100 million last year to $50 million this year.

“This was to bring this fund more in line with actual expenses and historic levels,” the finance minister’s spokesperson said. “The amount was increased to $100 million during the pandemic in order to better cope with the extraordinary impacts during that time.”

He also noted that the projected amount spent in 2023-24 was only $29 million.

Another line in the budget lists about $831 million being set aside for internal transfers and contingencies, a decrease of around $150 million from the same line in last year’s budget.

The spokesperson said that money includes $20 million for the search of Winnipeg-area landfills for the remains of Indigenous women suspected to have been dumped there by accused serial killer Jeremy Skibicki, $50 million for a Strategic Economic Initiatives Fund and funding for a new seniors’ advocate.

The remainder has been earmarked for in-year impacts of workforce initiatives and collective bargaining with public servants.

» cslark@brandonsun.com

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