The Manitoba government is investing $150 million to resurface more than 240 kilometres of roadway, Infrastructure Minister Ron Schuler announced today. “Our government is committed to improving Manitoba’s transportation infrastructure to ensure the safe and reliable flow of both people and goods,” said Schuler. “Investing in our highways supports economic growth and will have a positive impact on the province for years to come.” Manitoba Infrastructure has identified 10 sections to resurface on the Trans-Canada Highway and Provincial Trunk Highways (PTH) 23 and 59. Resurfacing work will take place on the following sections of highway: the Trans-Canada Highway eastbound lanes from Provincial Road (PR) 257 near Virden to the east junction at Oak Lake (29.5 km); the Trans-Canada Highway eastbound lanes from the east junction of PR 250 to the west junction of PTH 10 near Brandon (22.9 km); the Trans-Canada Highway eastbound lanes from the east junction of PTH 26 near St. François Xavier to Gaol Road near Headingley (six km); the Trans-Canada Highway westbound lanes from Gaol Road to the east junction of PTH 26 (six km); PTH 23 from PTH 59 to PTH 75 near Morris (29 km); PTH 23 from PTH 34 to PTH 5 west of Baldur (39.4 km); PTH 23 from PTH 5 to the west junction of PTH 18 near Ninette (25.3 km); PTH 23 from the west junction of PTH 18 to the south junction of PTH 10 near Minto (26.2 km); PTH 59 from the U.S. Border to PR 403 near St. Malo (40 km); and PTH 59 from PR 403 to PTH 52 (21 km). Some of the planned projects involve reconstruction, which includes grading or grade widening, removing the existing surface, restoring the road base and resurfacing multi-layered pavement. Work also includes major rehabilitation that involves a multi-layer pavement overlay to restore the pavement surface condition, extend pavement life and increase loading capacity. Other projects will involve single layer pavement overlays to improve pavement surface condition and extend pavement life. Schuler said the province expects to begin work on some of the roadways this August. “We have identified areas for reconstruction and major rehabilitation on three key highways in our province,” said Schuler. “We are making upgrades and performing maintenance on the Trans-Canada and highway 59 south, which are important routes for trade and tourism, and repairing damage on portions of highway 23 that occurred during the spring breakup to prevent further closures.” The road resurfacing funds come from the $500-million Manitoba Restart Program, an economic stimulus package announced in May to help restart Manitoba’s economy and ramp up construction as the province moves forward through the COVID-19 pandemic. The province will announce further projects funded under the Manitoba Restart Program in the coming weeks. (Province of MB News Release)

Source: Brandon Police Service Media Release At approx. 1:40 AM today, a female reported she had just been robbed by 3 females in the 1100 block of Princess. The 3 suspects approached the victim and began a conversation, then forcibly stole her bag which she had been carrying over her shoulder. Officers were able to locate and arrest the suspects in the 1000 block of Pacific Ave. At the time of arrest, they were found in possession of several knives which they were carrying within the stolen bag. The three accused (all of Brandon) aged 26, 26 and 27 were all charged with robbery, possession of stolen property and possession of a weapon. They were all held overnight and will appear in court later today.

Source: Brandon Police Service Media Release At approx. 1:45 Saturday afternoon, police attended to a hotel in the 900 block of Pacific Ave for a person with a gun.  The caller indicated that there was a knock at is door and when he opened the door a female pointed a gun at him and threatened to kill him.  A few minutes later, the same female approached a male in the parking lot and started a verbal altercation. An unknown male with the female, pulled a gun out and while pointing the gun at the victim, told him to leave.  A few minutes later, Officers located the female behind a business in the 800 block of Rosser Ave.  She was holding the handgun and pointing it at a few other people that had congregated behand the building.  Officers engaged the female and ordered her to drop the weapon, and she complied and was taken into custody without injury or harm to anyone.  The handgun was later found to be a Crossman Airsoft pistol designed as an exact replica of a Sig Sauer pistol.  The 44-year-old female of Waywayseecappo has been charged with 2 counts of Point Imitation Firearm, Possess Weapon for Dangerous Purpose, and Uttering Threats.  She will appear in court later this morning.

Source: Brandon Police Service Media Release On July 4, 2020, shortly after midnight, police responded to a report of a motor vehicle collision at the intersection of 34th street and Victoria Ave. The driver of one of the vehicles was found to be impaired. The 54-year-old male was arrested and provided sample of his breath that were more than twice the legal limit. A search of his vehicle located a loaded 308 rifle which was seized. The driver will appear in court on a later date on a charge of Impaired Driving and Careless Storage of a Firearm.

Brandon, MB – The City of Brandon Emergency Response Control Group has received information from the Province of Manitoba indicating that the Assiniboine River’s peak in Brandon has likely passed following heavy rainstorms earlier this week. As of 3 p.m. today, the Assiniboine River in Brandon was recorded at a level of 1,174.07 feet above sea level, measured at First Street. River levels are updated daily on the City of Brandon’s Open Government web portal at http://opengov.brandon.ca/catalog.php?dataset=riverlevel. Through this coming weekend, City of Brandon Emergency Response Control Group members will continue to monitor the potential for flash flooding in the Assiniboine River Valley should the Rivers Dam upstream of Brandon fail. Provincial projections have placed worst-case peak levels in Brandon should the Rivers Dam fail at levels similar to those seen during the spring flood of 2011, which was approximately 1,183 feet above sea level, measured at First Street. This is a level that the City of Brandon’s dike system can handle; however, contingency plans remain in place should low-lying areas along the Assiniboine River in Brandon need to evacuate. It is important to note that an evacuation of these areas has NOT been ordered at this time. However, preparation notices were issued earlier this week to several hundred homes and several dozen businesses in the area between 1st Street North and 26th Street North, from Stickney Avenue all the way north to Galbraith Crescent, to ensure preparedness IF flash flooding occurs. In the event of an evacuation order, residents will be notified as follows:   -             The City of Brandon’s emergency alerting siren -             Local radio stations -             The City of Brandon website (www.brandon.ca) -             City of Brandon Facebook and Twitter -             In-person door-to-door visitations A reminder that City of Brandon Parks & Recreation Services has CLOSED PUBLIC ACCESS to Queen Elizabeth Park and Dinsdale Park as a public safety measure. All public are asked to respect the barricades and signage that have been put in place in these greenspaces and are further asked to stay away from the Assiniboine River and STAY OFF of the dike infrastructure during this time. Additional information on Assiniboine River levels and any changes in the status of potential flash flooding in the Assiniboine River Valley will be made available at www.brandon.ca as it is confirmed. (City of Brandon Media Release)