Manitoba

Winnipeg eyes further street closures during pandemic

Six streets are being considered for restrictions much like four others closed this month to allow physically distanced pedestrian and bicycle traffic.

6 more streets may become pedestrian routes from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Winnipeg may soon have 10 streets open only for walking and cycling during the day and evening. (Ian Froese/CBC)

The City of Winnipeg is looking at expanding the number of streets closed to motorized traffic during the day and early evening.

Egerton Road, Churchill Drive, Kildonan Drive, Kilkenny Drive, Assiniboine Avenue and Glenwood Crescent are being considered for closure from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week.

A spokesperson for Matt Allard, chair of the city's infrastructure renewal and public works committee, confirmed the additional streets are being reviewed for the closures.

The city has already shut down Lyndale Drive, Scotia Street, Wellington Crescent and Wolseley Avenue during those hours, extending a restriction that limits drivers to using those streets for only one block, which is traditionally in place on Sundays in the summer months.

The city intends to re-evaluate the restrictions at the beginning of May to decide whether restrictions on the streets already designated should be extended past May 3.

In late March, the city closed its outdoor athletic facilities, such as soccer fields, basketball courts, tennis courts, baseball diamonds and skate parks.

They remain closed and are being patrolled to make sure physical distancing health orders from the province are being followed.