Canada/Winnipeggers welcome reopening of Portage and Main intersection to pedestrians
The first pedestrians were able to cross Winnipeg's iconic Portage Avenue and Main Street intersection for the first time since 1979 on Friday morning, bringing accessibility and economic opportunities to the downtown core.
The inauguration was made by the mayor of Manitoba's capital, Scott Gillingham, in front of a crowd that gathered to mark the occasion.
Today, we put an end to 46 years of debate about whether or not people should be allowed to cross the street," he said during a press conference near the intersection.
According to a report published last November, the cost of redesigning the intersection for pedestrians is approximately $17 million. The work involved removing the barriers that prevented crossing, transforming the intersection and installing lighting.
According to the mayor, this is part of a larger effort to build a safer, more accessible, connected and vibrant downtown.
Increased accessibility
Rosalie Best, a Winnipegger with reduced mobility, is among those in favor of reopening the famous intersection.
It means a much more accessible route," she says.
Before Friday, some people with mobility problems depended on elevators to take them to the underpass to cross the intersection.
Unfortunately, according to these pedestrians, the trip was less efficient than simply crossing on the surface. Rosalie Best found that, at times, the elevators didn't work.
Nor did she necessarily feel safe in the underpass.
Accessibility is one of the reasons why Kate Fenske, General Manager of Downtown Winnipeg BIZ, lobbied for the reopening of the intersection.
For her, it's a bold statement about the importance of accessibility and the fact that a vibrant downtown is a priority in Winnipeg.
It's about basic human rights. Everyone should be able to cross easily and get from one side to the other.
A quote from Kate Fenske, Executive Director of Downtown Winnipeg BIZ
Economic benefits
Reopening the intersection to pedestrians will make it easier to access local businesses, according to Emma Durand-Wood, another Winnipegger who welcomes the change.
It's easier for pedestrians. You can spend time shopping, stop for a coffee when you're waiting for the bus," she says.
Kate Fenske believes that easier travel in the downtown area will bring economic benefits.
The more connected our downtown is, the easier it is to get around, discover new businesses, support new businesses," she adds.
However, some less enthusiastic Winnipeggers are concerned about the future of the underpass. Scott Gillingham said the underpass will remain open for now, but its long-term future remains to be determined.
In 2018, the question of reopening the intersection was the subject of a referendum won by a majority of those opposed to opening it to pedestrians.
Source: ici.radio-canada.ca/
