Winnipeg mayor says frozen pipes a problem despite warm spell

Winnipeg Mayor Brian Bowman tells CBC's Information Radiodespite the milder weather, the number of reports of frozen pipes in the city is growing.

The city's website shows 141 reports of frozen pipes, that's double the number from last week.

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"Just because the air temperatures are warming up doesn't mean the ground is thawed out yet. And so, you know, there still is some cold down there and it's going to take some time to un-freeze it," Bowman said.

Last year thousands of homes were without running water as the city endured one of the coldest winters on record and people waited weeks before city crews could come and thaw their pipes.

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Bowman told CBC's Information Radio unlike last year people won't have to wait if their pipes are frozen.

"What is good to know is that the average response time when folks are contacting the city is the same day and you know city crews are working really hard to assist where they can," Bowman said.

Meanwhile Bowman told Information Radio he and the rest of city council are taking a serious look at which infrastructure projects to tackle, including the Arlington Bridge.

Over the weekend he looked over the aging Arlington Bridge which will be taken out of commission by 2020.

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"If you get up close to it you'll see where the metal is showing its age and so, while it is still safe to use you can see that its days are numbered," Bowman said.

Reports are being put together to decide exactly what to do with one of the key routes between north and south Winnipeg.

"The goal is to, if it is replaced making sure that there's as minimal disruption as possible and it's going to be a discussion that city councillors are going to have with the public service and with Winnipeggers in due course," Bowman said.

Meantime, Bowman said there are number of projects that need attention as well, and councillors will have a special meeting to decide which take priority.

"A lot of competing demands, we've got a massive infrastructure deficit which, Arlington Bridge is amongst those pieces that really have not been injected with the money I think they should have over the last number of years," Bowman said.