Manitoba winter road system ready to see traffic roll

Critical pieces of seasonal infrastructure in Manitoba are now open and they are getting a boost in funding from the provincial government.

On Friday the provincial government announced it’s spending more than $11 million on the province’s winter road system, an increase of almost $2 million from the 2023 season. 

“Winter roads are a lifeline for many northern communities and increasing our investment in their construction emphasizes our government’s recognition of their importance,” said Lisa Naylor, Manitoba’s Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure in a news release. “Many families use these roads to re-supply, access health-care services and run their businesses. Our government remains committed to ensuring the growth and success of these communities.”

The increase in cash will be used to fund the winter road from St. Theresa Point to Berens River, the province saying the alignment will substantially reduce travel times required to get supplies to remote communities. 

In a news release on Friday, the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs welcomed the news of the increased funding, but said need for an overarching northern infrastructure strategy is growing.

“Winter roads may be the only option for our northern and remote First Nations in providing access to critical supplies and services,” said newly-elected Grand Chief Kyra Wilson in the release.

“Increasing funding is a step in the right direction, but we must discuss long-term planning for our Northern communities. I look forward to sitting down with both levels of government to begin those much-needed discussions on a long-term plan for all-season road infrastructure due to the fact that our Nation remains vulnerable to the increasing challenges posed by climate change, unsafe travel conditions and the limited seasonal window for resupply.”

The news release went on to explain the AMC continues its calls for further infrastructure investment in the northern road system, saying the creation of a Northern Road Agency and other strategies would be beneficial and something the group will be discussing with First Nations leadership in Feburary.

“At the Special Chiefs Assembly this week, leadership spoke about the need to support First Nations with winter roads and the firm commitment required from both levels of government to work with First Nations to ensure adequate funding is available to address infrastructure and supply shortages and to prevent First Nations from having to absorb additional costs to transport essential goods to their reserves,” she said in the release.   “They have given me the mandate to start those discussions through resolution.”

More than 30,000 people across 22 communities utilize the roads and enable roughly 3,000 shipments of goods every year. It also provides temporary inter-community travel as well, with the system spanning more than 2,356 kilometres. 

While weather conditions may delay its opening, the winter road system usually sees traffic from late January to mid-March.