MHCA acknowledges it is located on Treaty One land and the homeland of the Metis Nation

Clarity needed on impact of adding bridges into local and regional street reserve

 

Bridge work could consume any one year’s tax revenue bump

The financial impact of allowing bridge projects to qualify for funding from Winnipeg’s local and regional street renewal reserve could be significant, a review of the bridge construction expenditures indicates.

From 2014 to 2019, City Council approved $51.5 million in bridge projects – almost precisely matching the annual revenue bumps from the street repair reserves, which are funded through a yearly, dedicated 2% property tax hike. The tax hikes have put $50.9 million more into the reserves since 2014.

The tax hike from 2020 to 2024 is expected to flow an additional $63.4 million to the reserves, the city’s 2019 Capital Projects forecast indicates. The same forecast shows that bridge construction projects in the same period are expected to cost $50.65 million.

The bridge expenses do not include the annual program for waterways, nor grade separations, retaining walls or slope stabilizations. Including those items would ramp up costs considerably.

City council this year decided to allow bridge projects to draw funding from the reserves. The reserves, however, were established in 2013 (local street renewal program) and 2014 (regional street renewal program) expressly to move street repair budgets to a “sustainable” level – getting Winnipeg out of its infrastructure investment deficit and to the point where annual budgets match the work needed to keep streets in good condition.

“This was not the deal City Council made with property taxpayers in 2013 and 2014, when Winnipeggers agreed to pay, every year, 2% more on their tax bills to improve the condition of their streets,” MHCA President Chris Lorenc stressed.

Lorenc said the MHCA will be asking Mayor Brian Bowman and city councillors to clarify what types of bridge work, specifically, will qualify for funding out of the street repair reserves. Further, discussions will be launched about how the city will be able to preserve the plan to get to sustainable budget levels to eliminate the infrastructure gap.

“We made progress with the 2% tax-hike plan, and we can’t afford to backslide,” Lorenc said. “We can’t allow Winnipeg streets to get further riddled by potholes. We’ve seen some pretty significant sinkholes appear this spring – these are all signs of serious decay.”

Chair’s Gala

November 18, 2022
RBC Convention Centre

Close to 650pp attended from both industry, government and stakeholder partners.  It was the closing of Nicole Chabot’s two year term as Chair.  Dennis Cruise of Bituminex Paving was welcomed as the new Chair.

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2022 Heavy Santa

December 16, 2022
David Livingstone School

This event was made possible through fundraising at the MHCA Chair’s Gala and Spring Mixer.

104 goodie bags and presents were prepared for the grades 1-4 students at David Livingstone School. 

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Awards Breakfast & Annual General Meeting

November 18, 2022
RBC Convention Centre

Manitoba Transportation & Infrastructure (MTI) Award Winner

  • Grading – Strilkiwski Contracting Ltd.: PTH 6 Grahamdale
  • Paving – Coco Paving o/a Russell Redi-Mix: Bituminous Reconstruction PTH 83
  • Urban Works – Coco Paving o/a Russell Redi-Mix: Bituminous Reconstruction PA 634 and Bituminous Pavement PTH 5
  • Special Projects – Mekhana Development Corp/Arnason Industries Ltd: Theresa Point Airport
  • Major Structures – D. Steele Construction: Bridge Replacement over the Red River Floodway on PTH 59N
  • Minor Structures – Moncrief Construction Ltd.: Reinforced concrete box culvert on PTH 5
  • Water Management – Brunet Ltd.: Flood response, Morris ring dike closure

200 members and guests gathered to hear greetings from Premier Heather Stefanson and the newly elected Mayor of Winnipeg, Scott Gillingham. Hon. Doyle Piwniuk, Minister, Manitoba Infrastructure, handed out the MTI Awards.

31 companies were recognized for their milestone membership commitments.

Matthew Neziol, of Bayview Construction, received the Safety Leader Award.

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