Road safety strategy prioritizes Carberry crash site

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This article was published 21/12/2024 (469 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The province plans to improve road safety, in particular on the ill-fated stretch of the Trans-Canada Highway near Carberry, which became the site of the deadliest bus crash in Manitoba’s history.

The accident took place when a bus carrying 25 people, including many seniors, collided with a semi at the intersection of Highway 5 and the Trans-Canada Highway, just north of Carberry in June 2023. The collision resulted in the death of 17 people and left eight others seriously injured.

Under a road map outlined in its Multi-Year Infrastructure Investment Strategy, the province plans to improve transportation and general infrastructure over the next five years through a wide range of capital projects, which will include implementing intersection improvements on the Trans-Canada Highway at Provincial Trunk Highway (PTH) 5 near Carberry.

The intersection, a critical junction on Manitoba’s major highway, has continued to remain a subject of increasing public concern following the devastating collision in June 2023.

On Friday, Infrastructure Minister Lisa Naylor said the road safety strategy outlines the government’s priorities in connecting Manitobans across the province for years to come.

“Our government’s Infrastructure Investment Strategy is designed to enhance the safety of Manitobans and ensure we have the robust infrastructure needed for economic growth,” Naylor said. “Improving road safety is a key priority, and the intersection improvements at PTH 5 are part of that commitment.”

Carberry Mayor Ray Muirhead told the Sun he is hopeful the proposal for a local intersection will move forward quickly following the second round of public consultations held last month.

The meeting, part of a three-phase consultation process, he said, served as a check-in to confirm the community’s strong desire for an overpass to be built to improve safety at the intersection.

“We look forward to something happening. This has been decades in the making. We’ve wanted something done at that intersection,” he said in an interview on Friday. “Whether it’s the provincial government or the federal government, whoever wants to step up to the plate, we would work with them. It’s been a long time in the process.”

Muirhead also shared concerns about the pace of the project, noting that previous consultations had treated the overpass as a long-term option, with construction proposed 25 years down the road.

However, with the overpass now a part of near-term plans, he is eager to see progress.

“We would like to see a timeline, we would like to see it started as early as next summer,” he said.

According to the infrastructure strategy document, the PTH 5 intersection improvements are estimated to cost $12.03 million. The project will involve a functional design study to determine necessary improvements, followed by detailed design and construction. While the specific improvements have not yet been identified, the project aims to improve public safety, reduce traffic delays, and enhance the efficiency of one of Manitoba’s key economic trade routes.

“The intended outcomes of the project include supporting trade and commerce, enhancing the level of service, improving public safety, and optimizing operations at the intersection,” it read. “It is expected to significantly reduce traffic delays, improve key economic trade routes, and enhance the reliability and efficiency of Canada’s international and inter-provincial trade flows.”

The strategy also includes other major infrastructure investments, such as the twinning of the Trans-Canada Highway and various flood mitigation projects. However, the PTH 5 intersection has garnered significant attention due to its high traffic volume and ongoing safety concerns.

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