The latest word on the roadway construction in Portage la Prairie's west end acknowledges the temporary traffic flow for trucks is somewhat of a concern.

Portage MLA Ian Wishart stresses that it is temporary.

"The construction process is ongoing there, and we're moving as fast as we can, given the conditions," says Wishart. "I think everybody knows that we're already working on the overpass area, but the traffic circle is kind of a tight point for all the traffic that's going through there right now. I want to encourage everyone to be patient and careful with it. I know that when you get a number of big trucks in that traffic circle, it is pretty tight. In the long term, that won't be what they use. They'll be going around the bypass in almost every case."

He notes the eastbound bypass traffic will cause trucks to avoid the roundabout entirely.

"It will only be west-end traffic -- local traffic -- that that will be using the traffic circle. It's certainly big enough for that," continues Wishart. "In the meantime, it is a tight point and I encourage everyone to be very careful. There are some people out there that are not used to traffic circles. That's a new thing, and it takes a little while for people to get used to new things."

Two traffic circles will be permanently part of the overall new roadway system at the west-end. The furthest one west will be used for eastbound traffic flowing into the city of Portage or those wishing to take the south service road. Motorists driving into the city will also have to take the second traffic circle, making traffic drive through both of the traffic circles, or roundabouts.  

Eastbound traffic taking the bypass will not have to drive through any traffic circles whatsoever.

Westbound traffic out of Portage will only take the traffic circle closest to the city. However, in order to drive onto the bypass from the west of Portage, both traffic circles will be required. The second traffic circle furthest west will be the means to swing around to take the eastbound bypass or to access the eastbound south service road.

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