Businesses around Winnipeg feeling the impact of roadwork construction
Posted June 8, 2026 5:16 pm.
Last Updated June 8, 2026 9:23 pm.
Summer has arrived, which means one thing: construction season, as the city has embarked on an extensive roadwork plan, including on Edmonton Street.
While motorists certainly see the effects of driving in the city, the biggest impact is on local businesses.
As part of the $157 million in planned roadwork projects, work is being done on approximately 175 lane kilometres of roads, 50 sidewalk locations and 15 kilometres of bike lanes and active transportation pathways.
“There’s definitely less people walking by; I guess people think the sidewalk is closed, so they just don’t, they don’t really come,” said Eden Cho, an employee at Affinity Vegetarian Garden Restaurant.
Affinity Vegetarian Garden Restaurant is located directly on the path of construction on Edmonton Street. Speaking on behalf of the owners, Cho says they’re fed up.
“Basically, there’s just less people coming in because the roads are blocked, so people who call in a delivery and come to pick up their order, there’s nowhere to park, so it just slows down business a little bit,” Cho explained.
Meanwhile, over on Corydon Avenue west of Kenaston, there is another massive stretch of road construction, and workers at the nearby Fruit de la Vie say they too have noticed disruptions due to the work being done.
“I would say it makes us harder to find, it also makes it a bit of a pain to get here, luckily a lot of our traffic comes from bikers and walkers or anybody at the fitness clubs nearby, and we do have a parking lot so it makes it a little bit easier to park, when the parking lot gets full though we now a lot of people like to park and then walk,” said Diana Fawcher, the assistant manager at Fruit de la Vie.
In a statement to CityNews, the City of Winnipeg says, “We always try to minimize the impact of construction on businesses. We engage in significant outreach and coordination with properties affected by road construction to mitigate the impact of limited access, construction scheduling, construction staging and detours. This includes communicating all road construction projects to area residents and businesses via mailed construction notice. These letters include an ask for businesses or residents to contact us with any concerns or special requests for access.”
However, Cho says, “I’m just hoping maybe construction will be done soon.”
