Making noise about freeway plan

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This article was published 10/12/2019 (1590 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Winnipeggers got their second of three chances to voice opinions and concerns about the province’s plan to turn the South Perimeter Highway into a freeway on Wednesday night.

An open house, where people could learn about the project and provide feedback, was held at the South Winnipeg Community Centre.

The provincial government is billing the project, which will result in the highway being upgraded to a six-lane freeway, as a “long-term vision for a safer South Perimeter Highway.”

However, the proposal has drawn criticism.

Andrea and Barry Bayne, who live near the intersection of Waverley Street and the Trans-Canada Highway, said noise levels at their property are already “a nightmare.”

When they heard about the province’s plans, they were concerned the situation would go from bad to worse.

“It is so noisy in our gazebo that we cannot have a conversation at certain times of the day — rush hour, but now it’s almost so bad that there are very few windows of opportunity where you can be out in your yard and actually have a conversation,” she said.

“For us, it was a mixed response. A freeway? Oh my gosh, the noise levels. On the other hand, it was a good thing because we might actually — finally — after 15 years of interfacing with the trucking companies, the city and the province, there might actually be some noise attenuation.”

The province launched its South Perimeter Highway design study, which was tasked with developing a long-term vision for the highway, in 2018. That year, it also began hosting public engagement sessions.

Wednesday’s public consultation came on the heels of a similar event Tuesday night. The final one is set for today (4:30 to 7:30 p.m.) at the Oak Bluff Recreation Club on the 100 block of MacDonald Road.

The meetings are the province’s third and final stage of its public engagement process.

Once construction has been completed, there will no longer be level crossings and intersections on the highway. Instead, they’ll be replaced with interchanges and overpasses. Railway crossings will also run under the road.

Barry Bayne said he and his wife came out Wednesday to make sure their concerns about noise levels are heard by provincial planners.

“We went to the first set (of public consultation sessions) and voiced our concerns about noise. They had nothing about noise in the first set. And now I see they’re talking about it and have put noise attenuation in as part of the study,” he said.

“They’re proposing something be done for noise attenuation, but it hasn’t been costed out, and who knows if it will come to fruition.”

The edge of their property sits roughly 90 metres from the highway. Their home is located along “segment four” of the proposed project.

The project will also affect the Seine River.

After concerns were raised by advocacy organization Save Our Seine, the province unveiled a new, wider culvert under the highway that will allow greater water flow and result in the creation of a wildlife path.

After the public consultation session on Wednesday, Andrea Bayne said she feels their concerns about noise are being taken seriously by the province.

“I think in the long run, truth be told, as long as they use the noise attenuation, it’ll be OK. Because, you know what, it is what it is. Cities are getting bigger. There’s more traffic. That’s the reality,” she said.

“As long as they act responsibly and put noise attenuation in for people, that’s OK. I feel confident, I feel very confident, that our concerns will be met.”

ryan.thorpe@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @rk_thorpe