Portion of Portage Avenue to shut down Friday

Portage and Main is pictured on March 27, 2025. (CTV News Winnipeg)

A section of Portage Avenue will close Friday in the ongoing construction project to reopen Portage and Main to pedestrians.

The city said eastbound Portage Avenue East will close from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. so concrete can be poured.

Pedestrian access will continue through the closure.

Other current closures at and around the intersection will stay in effect, the city said.

City council voted in March 2024 to reopen the intersection to pedestrians instead of repairing a waterproof membrane that protects the underground concourse, which would have cost roughly $73 million.

The intersection has been closed to foot traffic since 1979.

Construction began in December, with work underway to demolish the barrier walls, install new traffic signals and streetlights, add a curb extension, repair existing medians, and install new curbs and sidewalks.

The initial budget was $13 million but was upped to $21.2 million in November.

It is expected to be finished in July.

- With files from CTV’s Jeff Keele