Manitoba invests millions into Highway 59 repairs

The Manitoba Government will be putting hundreds of millions into repairs on Highway 59.

Premier Greg Selinger announced Wednesday the province has committed to upgrades to bridges, paving and will immediately start working on plans for a Highway 101 and Highway 59 intersection makeover.

"PTH 59 is a heavily travelled north-south tourist and trade route, and these road investments will improve the ride for heavy trucks and commuters," Selinger said in a news release.

"The new projects include bridge replacements and paving of this roadway to Birds Hill and the east side beach communities of Lake Winnipeg."

The province had already budgeted nearly $160 million for the Highway 59 makeovers over the next five years, but the premier said even more will be allocated now with the imminent Highway 101 and Highway 59 intersection undertaking.

Although design work on the new intersection is getting underway shortly, construction isn't set to begin until the fall of 2015 and is projected to take three years

Other repairs include paving a 23-kilometre stretch from the south junction of Highway 12 to Highway 11, as well as repairs to 23 kilometres of shoulder lanes from Rat River to Highway 52.