Discussions

There's been a lot of talk recently about issues regarding Manitoba Highway 1, the Trans Canada Highway. Earlier this year the provincial government approved an increase in the speed limit along the Highway from 100km/h to 110km/h. The highway is the busiest route in Western Manitoba, and is slowly being upgraded through various construction projects.  
 
On the Manitoba Infrastructure and Transportation website, major construction plans from now through 2010 are listed and include re-paving the stretch of the highway between Douglas and Carberry. There's also the Highway 110 interchange and Brandon bypass project. ( http://www.gov.mb.ca/highways/program/projects/pth1.html )  
 
I only drive a small section of the highway to commute to Brandon, but I'm curious to know what everyone else is seeing out there that needs to be done, either immediately or at some point in the near future. A few things off the top of my head:  
 
-Interchanges in Brandon at 1st street and 18th street to eliminate the traffic lights  
 
-Paving of the gravel shoulders  
 
-Interchange at virden  
 
-Interchange at Highway 1 and Highway 5 near Carberry  
 
-Upgrades on all merge lanes (they are too short)  
 
It's Canada's longest highway and the only major east-west route from one coast to the other. There's been calls for more federal funding but I doubt it will happen anytime soon. It certainly would be nice to see some progress on upgrading the highway in this part of the province.