Winnipeg to introduce new features to roads aimed to slow down drivers

A small stretch of road in Winnipeg’s Waverly West neighbourhood is about to get a major makeover. It is one of 13 spots selected across the city to get a new temporary concrete curb.

“Probably be one on a side and one straighter… There will be signs, so people will go ‘Oh, it’s a narrower road, I’ll have to slow down,’” said Janice Lukes, Waverley West City Councillor.

Lukes says the initiative is one of many brought forward by the road safety team. She says speed is still one of the primary concerns she hears from residents.

“You can put up whatever speed limit sign up that you want. 30, 40, 50 kilometres for whatever reason, people can’t seem to read or adhere to the speed, so we have to change the built environment. When you change the built environment, they have no choice but to slow down or crash into these major curb things,” explained Lukes.

It’s called traffic calming curbs — they will be placed differently based on the area they’re in. One for Templeton Avenue is slated to go between lanes of traffic in the middle of the road.

“I’m really supportive of it. I know some drivers will not be supportive of it. But if they slow down, they have nothing to worry about,” said Lukes.

The city chose the locations where speeding is a known problem, where the intersection has wide corners, and where visibility is poor at crosswalks.

“It’ll save collisions, and if it saves one collision, it’ll be worth it, and if it saves lives, of course.”

The city says it will monitor driver behaviour at these spots for the next year to make adjustments as needed. Once these roads come up for renewal or reconstruction, they’ll implement permanent traffic calming measures.