Several municipalities in southern Manitoba want improvements made to Provincial Road 201 to help open up the economic opportunities in the region.

The route connects a number of major trade corridors including Highway 75 and Highway 59 and traverses through the RMs of Emerson-Franklin, Stuartburn, and Piney.

As Emerson-Franklin Reeve Dave Carlson notes, the current weight restrictions on the road hinder the free flow of trade along that east-west corridor. He says there is a large section of the roadway where heavy trucks are forced to use the network of rural gravel roads in order to get from Point A to Point B.

"It hampers development in our area. If someone wants to set up a business they'll look at the highway and find out that they can't get in or out of the area very easily and would have to go down back roads. That's not an ideal situation for the municipality," states Carlson who says the restrictions very likely have or will deter potential business ventures. He adds the extra presence of semi-trucks is not great on the gravel roads as the increased wear and tear also increases the need for regular maintenance. 

An economic impact study initiated by Emerson-Franklin, Piney, and Stuartburn suggested that it would be of significant benefit to the region if the PR 201 could be upgraded to RTAC (Road Transport Association of Canada) standards, accommodating heavier truck traffic.

Carlson says all three municipalities have received help from La Vérendrye MLA Dennis Smook and Borderland MLA Josh Guenter in pushing that study forward through various levels of provincial government.

"The province is now looking at putting the project on the five-year capital plan," he says. "Of course, we would like to see something happen sooner than five years and we'll be working to expedite that if we can."

Because the province is already working on upgrades along Highway 59 near the Tolstoi border and Highway 75 at the Emerson border, Carlson feels improvements to PR 201 would tie the whole package together.