‘The traffic is wild’: Businesses grappling with Portage Avenue construction delays

Residents are unhappy with the pace of a construction project on Portage Avenue that might need another season to finish. Joseph Bernacki reports.

Construction delays on Portage Avenue have been impacting some Winnipeg businesses for several months—and they’re looking forward to the day it’s over.

“Sometimes, you know, traffic’s backed up to the Grace Hospital and beyond, customers complaining of 45-minute to 60-minute wait times to get down Portage Avenue,” said Chris Shea, general manager of ACR Auto Glass on Portage Avenue.

Shea said road construction on Portage Avenue between Sturgeon Road and Cavalier Drive has been a hassle since mid-summer, leaving drivers waiting in both directions of the lengthy stretch.

“The traffic is wild,” Shea said.

“Customers are complaining constantly of wait times. The worst is, you know, the end-of-day traffic, that 2:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. time, when customers are coming back to pick up vehicles.”

Shea’s business is not the only one impacted. His neighbour Dean Davis works as the manager at Earl’s Automotive.

Davis said it’s been an excruciating wait for parts he must order to service vehicles. His suppliers can’t get through the lines of cars.

“The delay on getting the parts has gone from 15 minutes to sometimes an hour, an hour and a half, and they’re just down the street,” Davis said.

City of Winnipeg Public Works Committee Chair Janice Lukes said this is one of the longest road projects ever for the city at just over 15 lane kilometres.

This number is the total of four lanes in each direction and will cost $5.3 million. Lukes said losing 12 to 14 working days to rain has been a factor in the delay, but notes boots should have been on the ground earlier.

“People are frustrated, and I feel their pain,” Lukes said. “I think personally, the city and the consulting firm should have gotten that project out the door sooner.”

CTV News reached out to the city to understand more about the timelines to complete the project and more about the delays.

The city acknowledged the request and said it’s working on getting back to us with a response.

More October rain is delaying the project to next spring, according to Lukes.

Davis said working on both sides of a major artery like Portage Avenue at the same time was a mistake.

“I don’t think it was the right decision,” Davis said.

“It just caused way too much traffic and disruption with every business along Portage here. It’s been stupid, period.”