Manitoba to flood-proof Highway 75 by raising road, rebuilding bridges
The Manitoba government is promising to raise sections of Highway 75 near Morris, Man., so it wouldn't have to close the major road during floods.
Over the next five years, the province will rebuild two major bridges and raise 26 kilometres of highway north and south of the town to keep the road above flood levels, Premier Greg Selinger announced Friday afternoon.
"A construction project of this magnitude will be built in phases over the next five years to minimize disruption to the town of Morris while getting the flood protection done as soon as possible."
The work is expected to cost about $200 million and create 2,200 jobs, Selinger added.
Highway 75 is a critical commercial route linking Manitoba and the United States, but it often closes to traffic during spring floods.
"PTH 75 is important not only for transportation and the economy of the region, but also brings tourist dollars to our community," Morris Mayor Gavin van der Linde said in the release.
"We will continue to work with the province on this important infrastructure project."
Engineering plans will be produced for a higher bridge over the Morris River at the north end of town, as well as a higher bridge over the Plum River south of Morris near St. Jean Baptiste.
The Morris River bridge is prone to flooding and is what usually closes Highway 75 during flood season, according to the province.
The government also plans to build new hydraulic openings on the highway south of Aubigny so water can flow from west to east whenever there's flooding.