Speed reduction planned for dangerous south Perimeter section

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This article was published 11/11/2019 (1626 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Family of a 19-year-old man who died in a Perimeter Highway collision last month are happy to hear of temporary changes for a dangerous southwest Winnipeg intersection, but want to see a more permanent solution take shape.

Infrastructure Minister Ron Schuler announced Tuesday four interim changes to improve safety on the south Perimeter near the Brady Road landfill — an area where at least four people have died in collisions since 2011.

The moves include a reduced speed limit of 80 km/h between Provincial Road 330 and Kenaston Boulevard, creation of a deceleration zone on the highway shoulder near the Brady Road turnoff, and the elimination of left-hand turns going westbound from Brady onto the Perimeter.

There will be signage and speed-reader boards in place to notify drivers of the changes. In an interview, Schuler said costs associated with the moves will be “negligible.”

Around 9 a.m. on Oct. 25, Manitoba RCMP responded to the latest vehicle collision near the Brady Road intersection.

Ethan Boyer, 19, died at the scene. His car, which was travelling east-bound on the Perimeter, was struck by a semi-truck headed the same way and pushed into another vehicle.

In his obituary, family described Boyer as “a kind and gentle giant with a unique sense of humour and an endless love for animals.”

Dana Boyer, Ethan’s father, said Tuesday in a message to the Free Press the province’s planned highway changes were a “good start, but a lot more needs to be done,” including removing traffic lights on the Perimeter and access points via gravel roads.

“Yes, this means more inconveniences, but hopefully less fatalities for our first responders to attend… Lives will be saved. Done properly, (the) Perimeter would have no stopping points so cars, trucks and especially truckers can flow safely and, fingers crossed, no more senseless fatalities like Ethan’s,” he said.

Lesley Shepherd, a close friend, talked to Ethan Boyer’s relatives Tuesday. They generally approved of the province’s interim changes and are looking forward to more permanent ones, she said.

“We have a positive reaction that steps are being taken to ensure public safety. It’s not exactly what we asked for, but it’s a good start,” Shepherd said.

Family and friends had asked the government to close the Brady Road intersection and redirect traffic to a service road off Waverley Street.

Schuler said there’s a dirt road already in place, but it wouldn’t be able to handle the amount of vehicles — about 800 trucks per day — traveling in the area on the Brady Road landfill. The dirt road was built to allow City of Winnipeg crews to monitor wells nearby and to help Manitoba Hydro to keep tabs on a power line, he said.

The province is planning to build a permanent service road which all vehicles can use, coming off of Waverley Street, by fall 2020.

The project is part of a larger South Perimeter Highway Safety Plan the government announced in October 2018. The $19-million undertaking is happening over three years, with plans to improve 24 intersections, including Brady Road at the Perimeter.

“As soon as frost is out of the ground, that will be one of the target projects, and we’ll get it done,” Schuler said.

He offered condolences to the Boyer family, who are currently planning a celebration of life for Ethan on Friday in Stonewall.

The ceremony will begin at 1 p.m. at the New Life Church.

jessica.botelho@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @_jessbu