Doer announces $50M for Winnipeg street repairs

Manitoba Premier Gary Doer continued his spending spree on roads Tuesday by announcing $50 million in new fundingover two years to fix Winnipeg streets.

On Monday, he had announced $300 million infunding for provincial highways.

Tuesday's announcedcash infusion is in addition to the $159 millionthe provinceprovides each year to the City of Winnipeg in grant support for various programs. Of that $159 million, about $7 million is invested in street renewal efforts.

Tuesday's announced funding amounts to a quadrupling of provincial funding for Winnipeg streets, the province said.

Most of the funding will target road work on main streets, which carry 80 per cent of the city's traffic. There is also some new cash for bicycle routes.

"The City of Winnipeg currently spends $30 million per year on its regional street program," Doer said in a news release.

"Our commitment will allow the city to nearly double the amount of work done on Winnipegs regional streets by 2008."

The city can use the money for work starting in the 2007 construction season. New street projects will be announced as they are tendered in the coming months.