Perimeter Highway (Winnipeg)
Provincial Trunk Highways (PTH) 100 and 101, collectively known as the Perimeter Highway, form a beltway around the Canadian city of Winnipeg, Manitoba. The Perimeter Highway is approximately 90 km (56 mi) in length and serves as a ring road around Winnipeg for through traffic. It is often considered by local residents to be the city's unofficial boundary, although approximately three-quarters of the Perimeter Highway actually lies in the other municipalities within the Winnipeg Metropolitan Region.
Perimeter Highway | ||||
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Winnipeg By-Pass | ||||
Perimeter Highway highlighted in red. | ||||
Route information | ||||
Auxiliary route of PTH 1 | ||||
Maintained by Manitoba Infrastructure | ||||
Length | 89.5 km (55.6 mi) | |||
Existed | 1955–present | |||
Component highways | ||||
Major junctions | ||||
Beltway around Winnipeg, Manitoba | ||||
East end | ![]() ![]() | |||
West end | ![]() ![]() | |||
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Length | 40.0 km (24.9 mi) | |||
Major intersections | ||||
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Length | 49.5 km (30.8 mi) | |||
Major intersections | ||||
Location | ||||
Country | Canada | |||
Province | Manitoba | |||
Rural municipalities | ||||
Major cities | Winnipeg | |||
Highway system | ||||
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Route
The beltway consists of two provincial highways connected at separate junctions with PTH 1, the Trans-Canada Highway (TCH), on the east and west sides of the Winnipeg. The North Perimeter highway is officially designated PTH 101 and is part of Canada's National Highway System. The South Perimeter highway is designated PTH 100 and is the official TCH bypass around Winnipeg but not part of the National Highway System. The entire route is a four-lane divided expressway with a mixture of interchanges and at-grade intersections. After many highway authorities in Canada have moved away from the cloverleaf interchange in favour of other designs, Winnipeg has the most cloverleafs of any city in Canada, with all six being on the Perimeter Highway.
History
The highway was originally built in 1955 to bypass city centre rush hour traffic. This was done in lieu of a more expensive freeway system within the Capital Region. The South Perimeter Highway bridge across the Red River and roadway at Pembina Highway/PTH 75 south was constructed in 1958. The job was tendered to Peter Leitch Construction Ltd. at a cost of $188,670. In December 1957, Dominion Bridge was awarded the contract ($80,157) to supply the structural steel for the overpass.[1] When constructed, the Perimeter Highway was located entirely in surrounding municipalities well outside of Winnipeg's official city limits, however roughly one-quarter of the highway is now inside proper city limits following the municipal amalgamation of Winnipeg in 1972.
The Perimeter Highway was originally unconnected between PTH 59 and PTH 15 as PTH 59 had received significant upgrades, making the need for a northeast section less pressing. PTH 59 continued to serve as the de facto northeast leg of the Perimeter until the mid-1990s, when PTH 59 and PTH 15 were connected. The last remaining two-lane section was the PTH 59 north interchange, which was upgraded over a three-year span ending in 2018.[2][3] The highway now encircles Winnipeg as a four-lane roadway.
Improvements were made to the western segment of the highway in the early 2010s when PTH 190, Centreport Canada Way, was constructed. In addition to the interchange that connected to this new highway, a flyover was constructed over Saskatchewan Avenue (PR 425) and the adjacent railway crossing; and the median was closed at the entrance to Assiniboia Downs leaving only right-in/right-out access from the southbound side.
Shortly after the completion of the PTH 101/PTH 59 interchange, the province announced its long-term intention to upgrade the southern portion of the Perimeter Highway, PTH 100, to modern freeway standards. The first part of this plan was announced in 2018, when the Manitoba government declared an immediate three-year project to close uncontrolled access points to the Perimeter Highway, and construct several new service roads to direct vehicle traffic to controlled-access intersections. The government executed on the initial stage of this project in late 2018 by closing 12 medians and 23 left-turn accesses onto the Perimeter Highway.[4]
In 2020, the Manitoba government announced the first major upgrade from this plan, which would be to replace the traffic signals at St. Mary's Road with an interchange, construction for which is expected to be completed by 2024.[5]
In parallel to the planning and upgrades to PTH 100, the government has begun planning upgrades to PTH 101. Some initial work was completed by October, 2021 in which the government closed six median crossings to reduce uncontrolled intersections on PTH 101.[6]
On August 15, 2022, the province released an update of the projects it intended to complete, continue, or tender in 2022 for both the North and South Perimeter Highway, including the continued construction of the interchange at St. Mary's Road[7]
Future plans
South Perimeter Highway, PTH 100: Continued planning is underway to upgrade the South Perimeter Highway, PTH100, to a controlled-access freeway.[8] A Design Study was completed in 2019 and the full vision for the Perimeter Highway would be realized through two multi-year phases; and some of the upgrades will potentially tie in with a new by-pass around St. Norbert.[9][10]
In June 2021, the Manitoba Government announced its intention to replace the traffic signals at PTH 3 (McGillivray Blvd) in Oak Bluff with a Diamond interchange. Engineering work is projected to begin in autumn 2021. Construction will tentatively start in late 2023, after the completion of the St. Mary's Road interchange.[11]
On March 13, 2023, the provincial government announced their intention to construct an interchange to replace the traffic signals at the Perimeter Highway and St. Anne's Road. A timeline has not been released but it's possible that the interchange could be constructed after the completion of the interchange at the Perimeter Highway and PTH 3.[12]
North Perimeter Highway, PTH 101: In March 2021, the Manitoba Government introduced an intention to upgrade PTH 101 to full freeway status and released a Safety Review and a request for public engagement.[13]
Overall: The long-term goal is for the entire Perimeter Highway to be upgraded to a six-lane freeway. All upgrades are expected to take several decades to complete.
Exits and Crossings
Exit numbering begins at Fermor Avenue and increases clockwise.
Location | km | mi | Exit | Destinations | Notes | ||
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Springfield | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1 | ![]() ![]() | Cloverleaf interchange Signed as exits 1A (west) and 1B (east) ![]() | ||
0.3 | 0.19 | Canadian National Railway | Grade-separated; passes below highway | ||||
2.0 | 1.2 | Murdock Road north | Westbound (clockwise) right-in/right-out | ||||
3.6 | 2.2 | Symington Road | At grade | ||||
↑ / ↓ | 5.2 | 3.2 | Plessis Road | Eastbound (counter-clockwise) right-in/right-out Westbound (clockwise) right-in/right-out | |||
Winnipeg | 6.8 | 4.2 | 8 | ![]() ![]() | Partial cloverleaf interchange Signed as exits 18A (north) and 18B (south) | ||
7.9 | 4.9 | Melnick Road north | Westbound (clockwise) right-in/right-out | ||||
8.0 | 5.0 | Canadian Pacific Railway | Level crossing | ||||
8.1 | 5.0 | Aimes Road north Sumka Road south | Westbound (clockwise) right-in/right-out Eastbound (counter-clockwise) right-in/right-out | ||||
8.4 | 5.2 | Crosses the Seine River | |||||
8.8 | 5.5 | ![]() ![]() | At grade; traffic signals (interchange proposed) | ||||
12.4 | 7.7 | ![]() ![]() | At grade; traffic signals (interchange under construction) | ||||
14.0 | 8.7 | Crosses the Red River | |||||
14.1 | 8.8 | Kilkenny Drive/Cloutier Drive | Grade separated; no access; passes below highway | ||||
15.9 | 9.9 | 18 | ![]() ![]() | Cloverleaf interchange Signed as exits 18A (north) and 18B (south) | |||
16.2 | 10.1 | Canadian National Railway | Grade-separated; passes below highway | ||||
17.2 | 10.7 | Waverley Street south | At grade; traffic signals | ||||
17.9 | 11.1 | ![]() ![]() | At grade; traffic signals | ||||
Macdonald | 21.4 | 13.3 | ![]() | At grade; traffic signals | |||
21.9 | 13.6 | Canadian Pacific Railway | Level crossing | ||||
22.0 | 13.7 | Service road | Westbound (clockwise) right-in/right-out | ||||
23.1 | 14.4 | Municipal Road 9E (La Salle Road) | Eastbound (counter-clockwise) right-in/right-out Westbound (clockwise) right-in/right-out | ||||
23.9 | 14.9 | Service road | Eastbound (counter-clockwise) right-in/right-out | ||||
24.7 | 15.3 | Municipal Road 8E | Eastbound (counter-clockwise) right-in/right-out Westbound (clockwise) right-in/right-out | ||||
25.6 | 15.9 | Service road | Eastbound (counter-clockwise) right-in/right-out | ||||
26.8 | 16.7 | ![]() | At-grade Eastbound (counter-clockwise) right-in only | ||||
28.0 | 17.4 | ![]() ![]() ![]() | At grade; traffic signals (interchange proposed) | ||||
29.8 | 18.5 | Oakland Road west Municipal Road 6E east | Southbound (counter-clockwise) right-in/right-out Northbound (clockwise) right-in/right-out | ||||
30.2 | 18.8 | Central Manitoba Railway (CEMR) | Level crossing | ||||
30.7 | 19.1 | La Verendrye Road west | Southbound (counter-clockwise) right-in/right-out | ||||
Winnipeg | 35.3 | 21.9 | ![]() ![]() | Partial cloverleaf interchange Signed as Exit (east) and Exit (west) | |||
35.3 | 21.9 | Canadian National Railway | Grade-separated; passes below highway | ||||
38.8 | 24.1 | Service road | Southbound (counter-clockwise) right-in/right-out | ||||
38.1 | 23.7 | 40 | ![]() ![]() | Partial cloverleaf interchange Signed as exits 40A (east) and 40B (west) counterclockwise | |||
38.6 | 24.0 | Crosses the Assiniboine River | |||||
38.6 | 24.0 | Oxbow Bend Road | Grade separated; no access; passes below highway | ||||
39.3 | 24.4 | Oak Forest Crescent Augier Avenue | Southbound (counter-clockwise) right-in/right-out Northbound (clockwise) right-out | ||||
40.0 | 24.9 | 42 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | Cloverleaf interchange Signed as exits 42A (east) and 42B (west) ![]() ![]() | |||
40.7 | 25.3 | Service road – Assiniboia Downs | Southbound (counter-clockwise) right-in/right-out | ||||
42.0 | 26.1 | ![]() | Grade separated; no access, passes below highway | ||||
42.0 | 26.1 | Canadian Pacific Railway | Grade-separated; passes below highway | ||||
43.1 | 26.8 | 45 | ![]() | Partial cloverleaf interchange Signed as exits 45A (east) and 45B (west) | |||
Rosser | 45.6 | 28.3 | Selkirk Avenue / Township Road 63N | At Grade | |||
48.5 | 30.1 | 50 | ![]() | Partial cloverleaf interchange Signed as exits 50A (east) and 50B (west) | |||
48.5 | 30.1 | Canadian Pacific Railway | Grade-separated; passes below highway | ||||
51.3 | 31.9 | Canadian National Railway | Level crossing | ||||
52.1 | 32.4 | ![]() | At grade; traffic signals | ||||
54.6 | 33.9 | Sturgeon Road | Westbound right-in/right-out | ||||
57.9 | 36.0 | 60 | ![]() ![]() ![]() | Cloverleaf interchange Signed as exits 60A (South) and 60B (North) | |||
59.8 | 37.2 | Canadian Pacific Railway | Level crossing | ||||
61.2 | 38.0 | Service road | Westbound (clockwise) right-in/right-out | ||||
West St. Paul | 62.8 | 39.0 | ![]() | At grade; traffic signals | |||
65.5 | 40.7 | Holmes Road north | Westbound (clockwise) right-in/right-out | ||||
66.8 | 41.5 | 69 | ![]() ![]() | Cloverleaf interchange Signed as exits 69A (south) and 69B (north) | |||
68.7 | 42.7 | Prest Avenue south | Eastbound (counter-clockwise) right-in/right-out | ||||
69.0 | 42.9 | Canadian Pacific Railway | Level crossing | ||||
69.6 | 43.2 | 71 | ![]() ![]() | Cloverleaf interchange Signed as exits 71A (south) and 71B (north) | |||
↑ / ↓ | 70.3 | 43.7 | Crosses the Red River | ||||
East St. Paul | 70.7 | 43.9 | 72 | ![]() ![]() | Partial cloverleaf interchange Signed as exits 72A (south) and 72B (north) | ||
72.1– 74.6 | 44.8– 46.4 | 76 | ![]() ![]() | Combination Interchange[14] Signed as exits 76A (south) and 76B (north) | |||
76.2 | 47.3 | Wenzel Street | At grade; traffic signals | ||||
↑ / ↓ | 77.0 | 47.8 | Central Manitoba Railway (CEMR) | Level crossing | |||
Springfield | 79.2 | 49.2 | Canadian Pacific Railway | Grade separated; passes below highway | |||
↑ / ↓ | 80.2 | 49.8 | Gunn Road west | At grade (traffic signals proposed) | |||
Winnipeg | 83.5 | 51.9 | Canadian National Railway | Level crossing | |||
↑ / ↓ | 83.6 | 51.9 | ![]() ![]() | At grade; traffic signals | |||
Springfield | 85.3 | 53.0 | St. Boniface Road | Southbound (counter-clockwise) right-in/right-out | |||
87.2 | 54.2 | Greater Winnipeg Water District Railway (GWWDRR) | Level crossing | ||||
89.5 0.0 | 55.6 0.0 | 1 | ![]() ![]() | Cloverleaf interchange Signed as exits 1A (west) and 1B (east) ![]() | |||
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1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi
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See also
External links
References
- "Giant Overpass, Bridge For City Perimeter Route". The Winnipeg Tribune. January 30, 1958.
- Rollason, Kevin. "Work starts on interchange at Perimeter, Highway 59". Retrieved 6 September 2015.
- Lawson, Kim. "Cloverleaf at Perimeter, Hwy 59 Under Construction". AM 680 CJOB. Retrieved 6 September 2015.
- McGuckin, Amber. "Province releases plan to make south Perimeter Highway less deadly". Retrieved 12 October 2018.
- "Manitoba government plans new interchange for South Perimeter Highway". Global News. June 29, 2020.
- "Large construction project on North Perimeter to begin Monday". CTV News. July 23, 2021.
- "Province of Manitoba | News Releases | Manitoba Government Announces Start of Next Phase of Perimeter Highway Safety Construction Project".
- "Province looks for input on plans to change South Perimeter Highway into a freeway". CTV News. December 10, 2019.
- "South Perimeter Highway Safety Plan". Manitoba Government. 2019.
- "Properties in potential paths of bypass project". CTV News. January 15, 2019.
- "Manitoba to build new interchange on Perimeter Highway". CTV News. June 22, 2021.
- "Province of Manitoba; News Releases; MULTI-YEAR INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT STRATEGY DETAILS PLANNED HIGHWAY, WATER CONTROL, NORTHERN AIRPORT CAPITAL PROJECTS".
- "Manitobans can have their say on turning North Perimeter into a freeway". CBC. March 22, 2021.
- "PTH 59 – PTH 101 Interchange Construction Project" (Map). Government of Manitoba. Retrieved December 15, 2016.