Upgrades are coming to a major road in a fast-growing Manitoba community, the Manitoba government announced Friday. The province and the Town of Niverville are partnering on a $17.7 million project to improve Provincial Road 311. Of that money, $9.7 million will come from the NDP government. “We know traffic on PR 311 has increased and we know safety is a local concern,” said Lisa Naylor, transportation and infrastructure minister for the province. The project spans the section of highway west of Wallace Road to Fifth Avenue. Work will include an expansion from two lanes to four lanes in the western part of the project, as well as a new roundabout, more turning lanes and land drainage system upgrades. Niverville Mayor Myron Dyck said the highway repairs will help as the community continues to grow and attract new businesses. Dyck said the community currently has a population of approximately 8,000 people, and he expects Niverville to become Manitoba’s newest city in the next 10 to 15 years. “There is a lot of interest in the community, and this roadway will go a long way, that even in the couple of years it will take to build this, we will see significant investment in business and housing,” he said. The province said tendering and construction are expected to start later this year. Once the construction is finished, Naylor said the town will be responsible for the stretch of Provincial Road 311 that runs through the community. The province will continue to operate and maintain traffic signals.
