Province weighing U-turn option at another problematic Manitoba highway intersection

Work to redesign the Manitoba highway intersection that was the site of a crash that left 17 people dead last year could also lead to improvements at some other problem spots in the province.

The province said Monday it's considering a restricted crossing U-turn, or RCUT, at the the intersection of Highway 5 and the Trans-Canada Highway as one option to make it safer.

That southwestern Manitoba intersection is where a June 15 collision between a semi-trailer truck and a bus full of seniors on a day trip to a casinokilled 17 people and injured eight others.

The design,identified in a report released Mondayon the safety of the intersection, would restrict left turns and force drivers to make U-turns instead.

Provincial officials confirmed Tuesday a similar plan is also being considered at the intersectionof Highway 12 and Provincial Road 210,near the town of Ste. Anne.

Thatintersection, about 45 kilometres southeast of Winnipeg, has been the site of more than 60 collisions between 2010 and 2019, almost half of which resulted in injuries and three of which left someone dead, says a road safety review on the intersection that was completed last August.

Richard Pelletier, the reeve for the Rural Municipalityof Ste. Anne, says he understands the Highway 5 andTrans-Canada intersection takes priority, but thinks the intersection near his community needs to be changed too.

"[The] priority is out there and I agree with that. They lost a lot of people. I feel for the families," he said."Nevertheless, it's still on the table for us."

There's also an overpass just north of the Ste. Anne's intersection that drivers can use instead. Pelletier said he tries to take that route now, especially after someone he knew died in a collision at the intersection.

Christelle Manaigre lives just outside Ste. Anne and uses the intersection often to run errands in nearby Steinbach.

"They do have the turning lane there, so if people know how to drive, then it's fine. But if you're not paying attention, yeah, it could be reallydangerous," she said.

She said she can see how an RCUT design could make it safer, but worries "it would just be a nuisance for those of us that do pay attention."

WATCH | How an RCUT intersection would work:

How an RCUT would work at Manitoba intersection where deadly crash happened

11 months ago

Duration 0:13

A restricted crossing U-turn, also known as an RCUT, is one of three options being explored to overhaul a highway intersection near Carberry, Man., where a crash killed 17 people and injured eight others in June.

The road safety review calls for more research to make sure large trucks could get through safely.

People in the area will hear other options during upcoming public consultations, a provincial spokesperson said.

Construction won't begin until after officials complete a study on the best options for the intersection's design, which is expected to be completed this summer, the spokesperson said in an email.

No decisions on changes have been made yet.

Drivers in RM of Ste. Anne hoping for changes at intersection

11 months ago

Duration 2:24

As Manitoba's government mulls changes to an intersection on Highway 1 north of Carberry, in response to a collision last year that killed 17 seniors, there is also a move to make similar changes at the intersection of Highway 12 and Provincial Road 210 in the rural municipality of Ste. Anne.