Prime Minister Stephen Harper was in Winnipeg on Friday, announcing the official opening of a roadway near the airport.

Harper was in town to unveil CentrePort Canada Way, a four-lane divided expressway that connects Manitoba’s inland port to the national highway system.

The nine-kilometre stretch is positioned near Winnipeg’s airport, a nearby trucking hub and a rail station.

The route has been under construction since 2010 and officially opened to the public on Friday, running up a tab of about $212 million.

Harper was joined at the announcement by Manitoba Premier Greg Selinger and Heritage Minister Shelly Glover.

On Thursday night, Harper caused a stir at a Winnipeg Jets game when he showed up unannounced. He was seen taking photos with Jets fans for hours after the game.

Harper’s presence in the province coincides with a tight byelection race in Brandon-Souris, a nearby riding.

The traditionally Conservative riding has seen the Liberals favoured in recent polls, and the Tories have responded with attack ads and personal letters from Harper distributed to voters.

Both federal NDP leader Tom Mulcair and Liberal leader Justin Trudeau have made visits to the riding, but Harper’s staff told CBC news the Prime Minister will not be visiting the riding while he is in the province.

Harper reiterated he would not be going at the press conference, saying Prime Ministers typically do not campaign in byelections.

He also refused to speculate on who would win the byelection.

“I’m not going to get into being an analyst. The people of Brandon as elsewhere will make a decision,” said Harper.

But Liberal MP Kevin Lamoureux said Harper’s presence in Winnipeg shows fear.

“He’s scared of what’s happening in Manitoba. That’s the reality. He’s out there campaigning,” he said.

Pollster Curtis Brown said either way, the CentrePort announcement was a chance for some good PR.

“A lot of the media coverage of the Conservatives in terms of the byelections, in terms of the narrative, has been negative. This is a way to make things more positive on the other side,” he said. “It’s an indirect method of campaigning."