43 Issue 2 Summer Edition 2019 BUILD MANITOBA service already, so it wasn’t an issue in terms of the schedule, but it was just a bit more time.” Coordinating with CN has been crucial on that Pembina Hwy. piece, because it involves their mainline track running east-west in and out of the province, but complicating things further is the continued work further down the CN line on the Waverley Underpass. “We had to work with CN around what they call the track blocks – when we work on the track, and trains can’t run – so both projects have to coordinate with CN around their schedules and operations,” says Crowder. “We have a fortunate situation in that both are City of Winnipeg projects, and both have PCL on them in some capacity, and the same consulting engineer (Dillon Consulting Limited), so there is a lot of overlap there, and that helps us to know what’s going on with their projects, and vice versa.” Moving forward into the summer, the plan is to finish off the transitway work, landscaping and the new Brenda Leipsic Dog Park (at the northwest corner of the transitway route near the Winnipeg Humane Society). Construction of the stations began in March, with seven planned along the transitway, and there is still some work ahead to connect the roadways to the system. While the opening date is in April of 2020, the project is actually slated for completion in the fall of 2019. A few months have been built into the schedule beyond that for operator training, and transitway and facilities testing. The decision was also made not to bring the transitway online in mid-winter, so the opening will coincide with the transit schedule change in the spring. When all is said and done, the opening will conclude a years-long process of consultation, planning and construction. “We really appreciate everybody’s involvement: The feedback and, most importantly, the patience that is required on a big project like this as we’re kind of heading toward the finish line of the project,” says Crowder. “As a construction team, we strongly believe in what we’re building, and the benefits that the city will gain from the work once it is completed.” 1820 DeVries Ave. Winnipeg, MB PRODUCTS FOR THE INDUSTRY www.springhilllumber.com 204-661-1055 View of the Transitway looking north from Plaza Station. Visible is the Letellier Overpass, Chevrier Station, Clarence Station and Park and Ride, and Seel Station and Park and Ride.