The City of Moose Jaw is looking to add a section of the Manitoba Expressway to the provincial Urban Highway Connector Program. 

City council approved unanimously to submit an expression of interest to the Ministry of Highways to add remediation paving on Manitoba Expressway from 11th Avenue Northeast to Corsterphine Avenue, both east and westbound lanes. 

The Urban Highway Connector Program sees the province pay for roadway repairs to urban streets that connect to provincial highways. 

The city currently has two projects underway as part of the program. Paving of Main Street North was completed last year, except for the intersection of Main Street and Thatcher Drive. 

“The work on Main Street was completed in 2021 at that time that contract left out the Main and Thatcher intersection so the agreement we’re entering into with the ministry is to pave that next year under the city’s resources to be funded by the ministry,” said Director of Engineering Bevan Harlton. 

According to the city, the ministry did not complete the intersection due to the high cost of milling around curbs.

The Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure is planning to begin work on Highway 363/Ninth Avenue Southwest during the 2023 construction season. 

Upon ministerial approval, the ministry will propose to have the project included in the 2023-2024 budget. As long as these steps are successful, construction will begin next year. 

“We've made some progress with that. That is scheduled to be completed next year so that's exciting news as we know that area that goes through the valley’s in pretty dire shape,” said City Manager Jim Puffalt. 

The work would occur for about 175 metres from Warner Street, south across Wakamow Valley to where the road straightens out and heads straight south.  

The Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure has been aware of slope stability and slumping issues on Highway 363 for years, and there have been structural repairs as well as slope monitoring occurring as far back as 1997.