Councillor calls on Winnipeggers to push for Waverley underpass

A Winnipeg city councillor is urging residents to push for an underpass at Waverley Street and Taylor Avenue, where he says more than 40 trains block traffic every day.

"As we build out the southwest quadrant of the city ... we have this growth and increasing traffic trying to get out there, so that's for the whole south quadrant and for anyone who is trying to get to the university or anywhere out there," said Coun. John Orlikow.

The River Heights/Fort Garry councillor says the design work is done and the plan is in place for the underpass, but there is one thing standing in the way: Money.

• Winnipeggers get glimpse at Waverley Street underpass designs

According to Orlikow, the project will cost $130 million. All levels of government would have to provide funding, and he wants Winnipeggers to let council know the way the intersection, in its current state, affects their lives.

"As these trains get longer and longer, cars get frustrated and they start moving down residential streets trying to find a way out," he said, adding "that has a negative impact on the associated neighbourhoods."

The city estimates 30,000 vehicles cross over the train tracks at Waverley Street and Taylor Avenue every day. 

Area residents were invited to a town hall meeting in December. They had a chance to ask the city's bridge-planning and operations engineer question about the project and to view design concepts for the underpass.

Orlikow said the more people speak up, the more of a priority the project will become to the government.