Winnipeg piloting polycarbonate panels for bus shelter repairs

The City of Winnipeg is testing a new method of repairing bus shelters that have been damaged.

The City of Winnipeg is testing a new method to repair bus shelters around the city ahead of winter.

According to a Wednesday news release, city crews will begin installing polycarbonate panels at 30 high-use shelters around Winnipeg.

“We’re investing in stronger, longer-lasting materials so shelters stay safe, clean, and usable – and so our staff can focus on maintaining more shelters rather than repeatedly repairing the same ones,” Mayor Scott Gillingham said in a statement.

According to the release, the city has spent more than $1 million since 2020 to repair broken shelter glass. The polycarbonate costs 15 per cent more than safety glass but the city expects it to reduce the ongoing replacement and repair costs.

The city said it has fully retrofitted three shelters with polycarbonate in the past several weeks. Crews have repaired glass panels at 70 locations around the city and visited more than 100 shelters around Winnipeg.

The project will be evaluated through the winter and if successful, the project could be expanded to more shelters in 2026.