The Saskatchewan Avenue West project that's bringing rejuvenation to the west end of the main course through Portage la Prairie is getting an add-on. It's not technically part of the project, but a walkway project is taking advantage of that effort to extend active transportation to Westpark School. 

Manager of Engineering Matthew Phillips says they're bringing Active Transportation to the Elm Street intersection.

"We will continue that to the west, crossing the tracks, all the way to Shindleman Way and Westpark School. On the south side of Saskatchewan Avenue, we're going to construct a concrete sidewalk. It'll be a metre-and-a-half wide, allowing a safe passage over the railway crossing and access to the school and businesses in the city's West End."

Manager of Engineering Matthew Phillips Manager of Engineering Matthew Phillips

He notes the school has been requesting that several times and it's been brought to the city's attention by multiple sources. 

"There has to be a better way to access the City's West End. We just got started last week. We had to work it with the Saskatchewan Avenue project so we could access that site at the same time. We're getting a good start on it here and, weather cooperating, it should only be a month or two until we see that coming into action before school starts."