‘Traffic is very, very aggressive’: Plans to add passing lanes to Highway 8 in the works

The province plans to add passing lanes to a Manitoba highway after a petition called for safety improvements. Danton Unger explains.

After one Gimli resident launched a petition calling for safety improvements along Highway 8, the province has confirmed passing lanes are on the way.

Teri Nicholson launched a petition in the summer calling on the province to add passing lanes to the roughly 65-kilometre stretch of Highway 8 between St. Andrews and Gimli.

“To be honest, most of the local people in the summertime will take Highway 7 or Highway 9 and avoid (Highway 8) altogether because it is so dangerous,” she told CTV News, adding drivers on the single-lane, undivided highway often try passing others when it isn’t safe.

“Traffic is very, very aggressive and very, very dangerous on that highway.”

That’s why she launched the petition in August, gathering more than 1,100 signatures, calling for passing lanes.

And now it seems that work has paid off.

Nicholson received an email from the office of Manitoba’s Infrastructure Minister Lisa Naylor saying passing lanes on Highway 8 are on the way, with construction anticipated to start this year.

The minister was unavailable for comment Wednesday, but a provincial spokesperson told CTV News the department determined passing lanes on Highway 8 between PTH 67 and Provincial Road 231 are warranted. They said the project is currently in the design phase.

As for how many passing lanes could be added, RM of Gimli Mayor Kevin Chudd said he was told eight new passing lanes would be added.

“On behalf of the RM of Gimli, I would like to thank the minister and the dedicated staff of Manitoba Transportation & Infrastructure for sharing the exciting news about the planned construction of eight new passing lanes along PTH 8,” Chudd said in a statement.

“This significant improvement will enhance safety and convenience for both our residents and visitors. We truly appreciate the effort and commitment put into advancing this important project, and we look forward to seeing these upgrades benefit our region starting in 2025.”

It’s welcome news for the Interlake Tourism Association.

“Having those passing lanes would definitely be a benefit,” said Jacque Bourgeois, the association’s past president.

He said Highway 8 is an important link for the area, bringing flocks of cottagers directly to Gimli, Hecla and Winnipeg Beach in the summer.

“It’s basically almost bumper to bumper. So it gets quite busy,” he said, adding passing lanes will help.

“Anything that would make driving more safe is always a good idea. And I think the fact that there’s a lot of traffic going up this way, and no passing lane, sometimes people get frustrated, and that could lead to some incidents.”

Nicholson said she is hopeful the province will follow through on its plans to add passing lanes – a move she believes will save lives.

“Definitely this would be a lifesaver, for sure.”

The province said up-to-date information on the project can be found online.