More walking bridges needed in St. Vital, Coun. Mayes says
A Winnipeg councillor says he wants a fair share of new bridges built in his South End ward and he's taking his concerns to city hall.
Plans for the city's proposed $334M network of cycling and walking paths are currently being looked over a second time after concerns were raised regarding how downtown business owners were consulted about the project.
As it stands, the active transportation project includes plans for several pedestrian bridges, none of which would be built in Coun. Brian Mayes St. Vital ward.
Mayes said he doesn't understand how the Seine River, which snakes along the outer east edge of his ward, could be passed over in the strategy.
"I guess because it's lower profile than the Red, where there are five new bridges called for ... and two new bridges over the Assiniboine," said Mayes, adding the bridges over the Red River and Assiniboine River will cost the city around $140 million.
Mayes said the city had plans 15 years ago to build several crossings in his ward, but they never came to fruition.
"The Seine is the second longest river within the city of Winnipeg; people tend to forget that. The Red is 45 kilometres; the Seine is 26 kilometres. There is some pedestrian bridges over at places like John Bruce Road, but the study back in 2000 called for five more. None of them got built."
Mayes hopes his plans to table a motion at City Hall Monday morning lead to the construction of at least two pedestrian crossings over the Seine River.
