Some extra revenue will help the RM of Portage la Prairie tackle some unexpected work. Earlier this month Davies' Bridge, located on Road 77 North between Roads 45 and 46 West, had collapsed as a tractor and Harrow Bar crossed the structure. At last week's Council meeting RM Councillors outlined the expected cost of the work is expected to be more than $200,000. However, they also reported an increase in the amount of added taxes the municipality will see this year, with $613,000 more than initially expected in the 2016 budget. Reeve Kam Blight says that funding will go a long way to tackling the bridge work.

"Taxes from the G3 Grain Elevator and Enns Brothers are coming into play and helping us out greatly this year. We have some unforeseen expenses such as the bridge repair, in fact the replacement, to the tune of almost a quarter-million dollars. So to be able to handle and absorb that unexpected expense and will be on the plus side of things, it's good, and we're very encouraged by that."

While Davies' Bridge was one of the few bridges remaining in the municipality, Blight says they're not going to be replacing the crossing with another bridge. He says in order to have the infrastructure back in place in a timely manner, they're instead moving forward with the creation of a culvert and crossing at the area.

At this point, the RM of Portage anticipates ending the year with a surplus of about 90-thousand dollars, resulting from the added taxes, increase in sales of service, and increase in revenue generated through interest.

For more information:
RM of Portage updated budget forecast

Crews working to repair the bridge