Winnipeg wants feedback on replacement for ‘Soviet-era’ concrete barricades at Portage and Main – Winnipeg | 24CA News
The City of Winnipeg is taking a look at the way forward for its most well-known intersection as soon as once more — however this time, the query of reopening Portage and Main to pedestrian visitors isn’t the query.
Instead, civic leaders are taking a look at a much-needed substitute for the drab, growing older barricades that at present maintain the long-lasting downtown crossroads targeted on automobile visitors solely.
The intersection must be utterly excavated within the close to future, as a result of an elevated danger of water injury to the underground concourse, so town launched a survey Tuesday asking Winnipeggers — with an emphasis on those that reside, work or go to downtown — for his or her suggestions on a reimagined use of the area.
“The current barricades we have here are ugly. I don’t think anybody likes the way it looks today. Some people call it a bunker, or Soviet-era. It is time for something different,” Coun. Jeff Browaty instructed Global Winnipeg Tuesday morning.
“They’re going to have to be removed anyway, so rather than putting back the ugly, we’re going to be able to put back something that’s more aesthetically pleasing.”
In a 2018 plebiscite, 65 per cent of Winnipeg voters elected to maintain the busy intersection closed to pedestrians — though election outcomes confirmed that a lot of the ‘no’ vote got here from residents who didn’t reside within the space. Then-mayor Brian Bowman, who had campaigned on reopening the intersection, expressed his disappointment with the consequence on the time.
Browaty stated Tuesday that he doesn’t assist reopening the intersection.
“I just don’t think it makes sense,” he stated. “I want a great downtown…. We can have a lot of cool areas that are bike-friendly, pedestrian-friendly, lots of live animation on the streets at night, you name it.
“That’s part of a good downtown, and I think we can have that while still realizing that a lot of traffic still has to move through Portage and Main.”
University of Winnipeg city research professor Jino Distasio says Winnipeg ought to take the chance to enhance the nook from its present state — “a tremendous amount of concrete and bunkers and barriers” — into one thing that may return Portage and Main to its iconic, historic standing.
And that doesn’t imply taking pedestrian crossing off the desk.
“As we all know, it’s been a decades-long debate about what should we do with this corner … and how do we do it with the highest standard, that makes sure anybody coming to our downtown can feel safe and confident in crossing this street, above ground or below ground? Right now, I don’t think we have a really good mix of either.
“I think we probably could accommodate both vehicles and pedestrians using smart technology,” he stated, “and being mindful that, yes, it’s a busy intersection, but we really don’t have another barricaded intersection in our city that is somehow uncrossable by foot.
“I really think we can come up with a solution that can bring some life back to downtown, and do it in a manner that makes sure our most iconic crosswalk is a crosswalk again.”
The metropolis is internet hosting a pair of pop-up information classes subsequent month for downtown staff and residents to weigh in on the way forward for Portage and Main — May 10 within the foyer of 201 Portage Ave. and May 11 within the underground concourse close to Scotiabank. Both classes run from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The on-line survey will stay open till May 26.
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