MB Hwys 59N & 101 Cloverleaf Secondary Access Road Closures

Excerpt from the Public Informational Session held June 13th, 2011 held at the #215 Legion located on Devries Ave.  Edward Pogorzelec, concerned citizen, a resident and volunteer firefighter of the RM of East St Paul, addressed the MMM Group regarding the emergency response and access concerns with respect to the closure of all secondary access roads leading into the East St. Paul community from Hwy 59 and Hwy 101.  I informed the group as a voluntary firefighter we require these accesses to minimize ambulatory and emergency response times and that seconds count when dealing with traumatic patient care, fire or other emergency responses including rerouting traffic during major incidences.  On several occasions the East St. Paul Fire Dept. had to close the highway to reroute traffic using these secondary accesses. These accesses are also required for efficient shuttling of water during fires (due to limited hydrant access) and effective response to emergency/first responder calls.  With the East St. Paul Ward 4 councilor present, I was informed by the MMM Group that this proposal was basically a “done deal”.  The MMM Group also informed us that this cloverleaf proposal is being designed under the premise that East St. Paul shall construct the Gateway Avenue “flyway” linking north and south East St Paul currently divided by Hwy 101 with a traffic corridor, supposedly eliminating traffic congestions on Henderson, Hwy 59, and Hwy 101. The “Gateway Flyway” which was strictly for pedestrian/cyclist traffic connecting the Trans-Canada Trail to Birds Hill Park and was designed for not vehicular according to East St. Paul Council.  Should it become vehicular this will eliminate the much needed green-space and walking trails within the community, and add to the traffic and noise dividing quiet residential neighborhoods.  The expense for the Gateway Flyway would be solely borne by ratepayers in East St Paul.  The MMM Group has also stated that there was a safety concern regarding traffic accidents at these uncontrolled secondary access intersections.  I informed them that the East St. Paul Fire Department responds to more MVAs at the Henderson cloverleaf and the currently controlled intersections located at Hwy 101 and Hwy 59 then at these uncontrolled access roads.  For a community trying to promote an eco-friendly environment and vehicles being the required mode of transportation into the city that the shortest distance would minimize greenhouse gases, which includes these secondary access roads.  The proposed closures were not well thought out by the MMM Group and did NOT take into consideration consequences should a major incident arise closing down the highway.  

This was mailed to all levels of government and was taken under advisement.  The MMM Group responded in a follow-up flyer as:

“The most common concern expressed by respondents was related to the impacts resulting from proposed access road closures – increased congestion, increased delay and travel time, safety, and reduced emergency vehicle access resulting from the access road closures”

As a result of the June 13, 2011 Public Consultation the MMM Group proposed Key Changes and nowhere in their response was safety and emergency response concerns addressed other than that Manitoba Infrastructure and Transportation (MIT) would continue to meet with the RM of East St Paul regularly during the detailed design phase.

Therefore, as a result of the new cloverleaf; the RM of East St Paul, a community of well over 9,000 (2011 census) residents has been restricted to three routes with access to major transportation highways; Hwy 59N at Hwy 202 (signalized), Henderson Hwy at Hwy 101 overpass, and Hwy 101E at Wenzel.  So in a nut shell the RM of East St Paul has been reduced in the number of highway access points; from ten (10) highway access points including secondary access down to three (3)!  All other highway access will be through the RM of East St Paul residential area or City of Winnipeg adjoining districts.   Should a tanker train be crossing Hwy 202 and Hwy 59N during an emergency response, the Fire Department and its volunteers are “boxed” in for the duration.  This situation has happened in the past.

June 13, 2011 Public Informational Session; the following weblink:   illustrates the impacted areas.  Pages 14 through 16 provide details.

Please note in the proposed cloverleaf design a total of seven (7) bridges are required, where most complete 4-leaf cloverleaf designs are two.  There is a significant cost savings to be had, allowing for additional space, avoiding expropriation and saving taxpayers money.

Now imagine the route emergency responders (to the impacted areas; NE of floodway) will have to take to protect resident’s property and/or address traumatic/emergency situations.  Emergency responders will have to take additional convoluted methods to obtain their destination adding minutes instead of vital seconds. 

Now, take into consideration the traffic congestions created in East St Paul during sporting events and tournaments, weekend exodus and return from cottage country, or a major weather event, i.e. snowstorm, etc, where traffic will be forced to travel through residential areas as opposed to secondary access routes.  For instance, the town of Headingly, a population of 3,215 people at the 2011 census has more highway access routes than East St Paul!

 

UPDATE: September 24, 2014

Winnipeg Free Press - ONLINE EDITION

Truck rolls into ditch off Hwy. 59

Posted: 09/24/2014 4:48 PM | Comments: 4 | Last Modified: 09/24/2014 9:29 PM | Updates

A truck hauling diesel fuel rolled into the ditch on Highway 59 at about 2:45 p.m. today but RCMP say there are no injuries and a fuel leak has been contained.  East St. Paul RCMP responded to the scene at Highway 59 and MacGregor Farm Road.  Traffic was being rerouted in the area as Highway 59, both northbound and southbound, had been closed.

As the public meeting was being held at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 215, an incident occurred at the intersection of Hwy 59, Hwy 202, and McGregor Farm Road.  Traffic was being rerouted using the same secondary access roads that the MMM Group is proposing of closing.  If the same incident occurred with these secondary access roads closed the entire north and south bound lanes of Hwy 59 would have been in gridlock which would include traffic from Hwy 101 attempting to yield onto Hwy 59 northbound.  Should another emergency or traumatic situation arise within the same vicinity, so would the emergency services attempting to respond be in gridlock.  The so-called perfect storm!

The MMM Group should seriously reconsider the proposed secondary access road closures and incorporate sufficient merge lanes which are entirely feasible as they are expropriating 10 homes within the designated cloverleaf construction.  Based on the conversations with North Kildonan residents and surrounding areas the residents are totally apposed of having East St Paul, Springfield and St. Clements traffic rerouted through their neighbourhoods.

Please sign the attached petition opposing the elimination of all secondary access routes in East St Paul.  Also, as constituents please contact your parliamentary members at all levels and MIT opposing these subject closures and have them rethink the design.