Ashley Bochek
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
The World-Spectator
Highway 41 north of the Trans-Canada Highway just past the Saskatchewan-Manitoba border has seen many filled potholes over the years, but no long term structural repairs to help ensure safety on the busy highway.
The highway is a Provincial Trunk Highway (PTH) from north of the Trans-Canada to past St. Lazare en route to Birtle or Russell.
MLA for Riding Mountain Greg Nesbitt says Highway 41 is in need of a full rebuild but no future plans are in place by the provincial government.
“When you’re an MLA, you always hear about the roads in your constituency. I was elected in 2016. I’m not going to say it’s just happened under the NDP government, but certainly when we took office in 2016, there was a Rural Road System that had been neglected basically for 17 years by the NDP unless you were within a stone’s throw of Winnipeg or you lived in northern Manitoba. Rural western and southwestern Manitoba was ignored, and there was a lot of catch-up to do. So, during our seven and a half years in government, I’m quite proud of our government’s record in our area, but unfortunately, Highway 41 wasn’t one of the roads that had been upgraded at that point.”
The Conservative Party government worked on fixing rural highways during their time in government from 2016 until the fall of 2023. “In my constituency during the last term in government, we spent a lot of money upgrading Highway 21, a portion of Highway 42, Highway 16—which is the second busiest highway here in Manitoba—it was upgraded. Highway 10, going all the way through Riding Mountain National Park was upgraded. Major money was spent on roads in my constituency during our time in government.”
MLA Nesbitt says Provincial Trunk Highways are not part of the Manitoba Highways five-year plan and doesn’t see future indications Highway 41 (a PTH) will be added to the future plan.
“Since the NDP has been back in, there hasn’t been anything major done on rural highways in my constituency, other than perhaps Highway 83. We had done a portion of that when we were in government and the NDP completed a portion near Birtle after taking power, but nothing more substantial.
“The concerning fact is PTH isn’t on the proverbial five-year plan here in Manitoba. So you can’t see on the horizon that Highway 41 is going to get any type of reconstruction.”
More traffic on provincial highways
MLA of Riding Mountain Greg Nesbitt explains Provincial Trunk Highways in rural Manitoba are seeing more traffic than in previous years.
“A lot of these PTHs and provincial roads here in Manitoba are described as cow pastures with the plops of asphalt here and there into the holes, and that’s a continuous effort, it doesn’t matter who’s in government.
“Certainly the highways department tries to make the roads safe, but from driving on rural roads, once you start patching roads, there are lots of bumps and waves. I think there’s breakage in the shoulders now too, where they hit the gravel and move over. A bigger truck hits the asphalt, it chips it off, and becomes a safety hazard. Part of that is vehicles in rural Manitoba and rural Saskatchewan have become bigger—farmers drive bigger trucks now. They’re using those highways to get their commodities to market, and they have to take the grain further than they used to because there’s less elevators. So it’s a double-edged sword when it comes to highways.”
Locals on Highway 41 sharing thoughts
Local farmers and individuals along Highway 41 have been advocating on social media for much-needed repairs to the highway. “With social media these days the locals have started a bit of a campaign, and I did receive some emails. I appreciate getting the emails, but sending them to an opposition MLA who believes that work is needed on the highway is not going to get any action. I’ve told them to direct the emails to the minister’s office and copy me on them, so I know how many emails are going. Every week there’s a few more emails from people who are concerned about Highway 41, and I’ve told them it’s not going to happen tomorrow, but the squeaky wheel gets greased sometimes. The big thing is, we have to get Highway 41 on a five-year plan.”
MLA Nesbitt says he will advocate for the highway during session at the legislature this fall.
“It might not be done next year, but it could be done three years from now or four years from now. That’s the only way. Governments usually don’t react to public pressure on one single issue like that, but I’ll keep advocating for the people to the minister’s office. I’ll be asking questions in the legislature about Highway 41, but being in opposition, you can only advocate.”
Nesbitt says the NDP government hasn’t given any indication on when there might be plans on fixing Highway 41.
“No, none, whatsoever,” he said. “It needs to be reconstructed. You can’t just put a layer of asphalt over top of what’s there. It will need to be milled and repavement laid. Even when it gets on a plan, it’s a long stretch of road. It likely wouldn’t be done in one year.”
Encourages emails to Ministry of Highways
Nesbitt encourages locals to continue emailing the ministry to possibly create action.
“We want some indication that Highway 41 is important. Put it on the five-year plan, so at least people can say, ‘The government is interested in us in Western Manitoba, and they have plans to do Highway 41, in 2028 or 2029,’ that’s the best that I think we can do at this point. The more citizens that write to the minister, makes my job easier, and it could prompt more action.”
He says he is advocating for three major highways within the Riding Mountain constituency, including Highway 41.
“Every time I get an email from somebody, I’ll respond to the constituent, telling them thank you for your email and your concern. I then forward them on to the minister and ask them for a response. I have talked to the minister personally, but Highway 41 isn’t the only road in Manitoba that needs reconstructed. It’s all about government priorities, and generally, the transportation department has a five-year plan, and when you get on that plan, there’s a good chance you’re going to see some reconstruction.
“I’m also lobbying for PTH 24 that runs from Miniota through Rapid City to Highway 10, it’s in the same condition as 41. Highway 45 that goes from Russell to Erickson, it’s in terrible shape in some sections. Those three roads are the key PTHs that I’ve been constantly talking to the minister about to try to get them on a plan.”
Road built decades ago
MLA Nesbitt explains Provincial Trunk Highways (PTHs) were built decades ago when lighter loads were travelling on the highways.
“We’re still driving on the same roads that were built 30 or 40 years ago, and weren’t built when there were semi-trailer trucks on those roads. That’s part of the issue. I’ve always felt that shoulders should be graveled regularly, so that there is no drop off between the pavement and the gravel, because if there’s a ridge there, it collects water, it undermines the pavement, then a truck hits that asphalt and it chips off.
“I think regular maintenance to the shoulders is very important on these type of roads. The highway department is out there filling potholes, but they can fill the potholes one day and two days later, they can pop out again if they’re hit by a big truck, and with our freeze-thaw conditions in the spring, that’s particularly bad for these roads.”
Advocacy needed from locals and RMs
MLA Nesbitt believes continuous advocacy from local citizens and RMs will potentially help with results of reconstructing Highway 41.
“I want them to continue to speak out, and I know the councils in the area—Wallace-Woodworth and Ellice-Archie—need to continue to make their views known to the minister as well. They’re very important in this, and continue to email the minister. I’d really appreciate it, and to assure them that at every opportunity I talk to the minister. As an opposition MLA, all you can do is talk and ask in a polite manner. Demanding is not going to get anything done, so you have to work with the government and give them a reason to do something. I think advocacy by citizens, by the councils, and by myself in the legislature, hopefully, we can get some results.”
A spokesperson from Manitoba Highways said some work is planned on Highway 41. “Manitoba Transportation and Infrastructure is currently planning surface rehabilitation work along PTH 41, with the work expected to be completed by fall 2026. In addition, MTI is evaluating potential improvements to the Qu’Appelle bridge along PTH 41. The department is assessing the bridge and will determine what work may be required to support the continued safe and reliable operation of the transportation route.”
Reach out to the Manitoba Minister of Highways, Lisa Naylor with concerns of Highway 41 at: minmti@manitoba.ca
