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CBC
23-05-2025
- Automotive
- CBC
Carberry-area residents rally against plan they say won't fix intersection where crash killed 17
Around 100 people rallied Thursday evening near the intersection north of Carberry where a crash killed 17 people two years ago, protesting one of the proposals to make the crossing safer. Semi-trailer trucks and farm vehicles lined the road beside the intersection of the Trans-Canada Highway and Highway 5, as protesters called on the province to scrap plans for a restricted crossing U-turn at the site. The protest was held at the intersection where on June 15, 2023, a semi and a bus full of seniors from the Dauphin area collided, killing 17 and injuring eight. A month later, three people were injured at the intersection when a pickup truck collided with an SUV, causing both to hit a third vehicle. Jordan Dickson, who lives beside the intersection, said she's seen a lot of accidents and close calls. "It's really scary sometimes," Dickson said. "We're always watching out there for when the [emergency] lights go by." She wants the intersection to be safer but worries community needs aren't being heard. Following a safety review, the province presented three main possibilities — a widened intersection, a roundabout or a restricted crossing U-turn, known as an RCUT. Thursday's rally was organized to send a message that an RCUT isn't the answer, Dickson said. An RCUT forces drivers to turn right, merge into traffic and then make a U-turn, instead of crossing or turning left. An RCUT doesn't make sense in an area with a lot of farm equipment and heavy truck traffic, Dickson said. "It's a recipe for disaster," she said. WATCH | How an R-CUT would work at the intersection near Carberry: How an RCUT would work at Manitoba intersection where deadly crash happened 1 year ago Duration 0:13 A restricted crossing U-turn, also known as an RCUT, is one of three options being explored to overhaul a highway intersection near Carberry, Man., where a crash killed 17 people and injured eight others in June. She says an overpass is the best way to make the intersection safer, and it's disappointing the province isn't pursuing that. If an overpass isn't possible, she would like a wider median, which was one of the options in the province's safety report. The current median is so narrow, even two-passenger vehicles can't comfortably fit. Traffic often gets back up at the intersection, because drivers wait until all four lanes on Highway 1 are clear to cross, Dickson says. "It's a very busy highway," Dickson said. "There's lots of times that when [farm] equipment's trying to get through, either they're forced to take the service road and go to the intersections either a mile east or mile west, or traffic gets pretty backed up as they are waiting to get through." Overpass needed: farmer Deborah Steen, who helped organize the rally, said spring and fall are particularly bad, and the intersection can become "complete chaos" when farming equipment crowds the intersection. "I come through this intersection multiple times a day, and it's just a nightmare at times," Steen said. She worries the RCUT will confuse drivers and push traffic onto less safe back roads. Steen also says if an overpass isn't possible, the next safest option is widening the median. Carberry-area farmer Neil Adriaansen says the intersection has been an issue for decades, and locals have been hoping for an overpass since the mid-1960s. He crosses the intersection four to eight times a day, and the size of his vehicles means he often doesn't fit in the median. If the province moves ahead with an RCUT, he'll start using back roads to avoid it, he said. "I am not taking a chance on a foggy morning, trying to merge across three lanes, and then have to turn around and do it again on the other side. That's bizarre," Adriaansen said. "I'm sure there are places for RCUTS. This just isn't it." After the last public open house about the intersection's future, Adriaansen submitted a four-page letter to the province explaining why he didn't want to see an RCUT built. It's unsafe and inconvenient, penalizing traffic travelling north-south, he said. If an overpass isn't possible, he also would support a wider median, or stoplights. Dickson said the consultation process with the province has been frustrating, with many in the community feeling ignored. A petition against the RCUT has started and is gathering local opinions about safer options, along with signatures, Dickson said. Their goal is to amplify the voices of those who use the intersection every day, she said. "We obviously want a safe intersection. We've been asking for it for years now," Dickson said. A final round of engagement will take place this spring and an engagement report is expected from the province this summer regarding the future of the intersection.
Global News
22-05-2025
- General
- Global News
‘It doesn't fit': Carberry residents oppose RCUT solution at deadly intersection
A group of Carberry residents say they are opposing planned safety measures at a deadly intersection, arguing provincial consultants didn't listen to what the community wanted at the site. The intersection of Highways 1 and 5 was the site of the deadliest crash in Manitoba's history in June 2023, when a mini-bus full of Dauphin-area seniors was hit by a semi. Seventeen people died as a result of the accident. Over the next year, three potential options were floated: a roundabout, an RCUT (restricted crossing U-turn) intersection, and median widening. Despite feedback from some community members and Carberry's mayor and council calling for an overpass, the residents say that option appears to have been nixed by the province earlier this year. In an open letter about Thursday's protest, the Carberry residents laid out a series of reasons for opposing the safety consultants' preferred choice of an RCUT solution. Story continues below advertisement 1:04 'It's a no-brainer': Officials in Carberry, Man., call for overpass at deadly intersection The residents listed issues such as access for farm equipment, emergency vehicles and school buses, among their reasons, for opposing the plan. They also noted that previous consultations didn't take into account the increase in traffic through the rural Manitoba community during the annual harvest season. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'We want to obviously make clear that we're not opposed to making the intersection safer, that is … the goal,' area resident Jordan Dickson told Global Winnipeg. 'It's just that these consultations, it's been very obvious the RCUT … has been pushed, and the consultants are very much dismissive of any opinions or concerns that have been brought up by the local community, especially the local farming community. 'It doesn't fit for this area.' Dickson, who lives just south of the intersection, said there have been multiple crashes before and after the 2023 incident, and she's frustrated it took such a serious tragedy to spur the province toward making a change. Story continues below advertisement 'It's in my backyard. That's a big reason why I've been so passionate about this,' she said. 'We need a safer option there. I go through it every single day, multiple times a day, as do many of our community members, family, friends.' 2:07 Reaction to Highway 1 intersection upgrade options near Carberry Resident Kim Reynolds said a planned rally for Thursday night is expected to draw around 100 people, including representatives of the local farming community. 'We have a lot of the local trucking firms and farmers bringing some of their implements and some examples of what crosses this intersection daily,' Reynolds said. 'With one of the largest potato processing plants just south of that intersection and one of the largest pork processing plants north, (there are) lots of double-wide semis — which is what kind of makes that intersection dangerous to start with, because it's not wide enough. Story continues below advertisement 'When the consultation was done, they had someone sit there and count vehicles, but it was July, so that's not a very accurate representation of our intersection. I would challenge them to sit there in September or May and see how busy that intersection is.' In a statement Thursday, the province said a final decision is yet to be made on the intersection. 'Work continues on the functional design process, and the project remains on schedule with construction set to begin in early 2026, with opening to traffic expected in fall 2026.'
Winnipeg Free Press
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
Letters, May 20
Opinion Re: Carberry residents not convinced of province's highway safety plan (May 16) This delay of improved safety at the intersection of Hwy. 5 and the Trans-Canada Highway is atrocious! The tragic accident took place almost two years ago and we still have ditherers arguing how to improve the site. It's all well and good that Premier Wab Kinew wants to hear from residents, but I suspect most have no apparent traffic design qualifications under their belts. This is not rocket science! Does the highways department have no road design engineers, nor any external consultants, who have actually driven outside of North America and recognized the safety and efficiency of roundabouts as used all over the globe? As Ms. Steen mentioned in the article, with the RCUT design, there will be still be a need to have vehicles queuing to make a U-turn involving crossing the route of other vehicles. Bonkers, I say. As an internationally experienced driver, I do know that because of the geometry of a roundabout, drivers are forced to slow down (unless they're asleep or impaired) plus any unfortunate collisions tend to be slower speed glancing blows rather than high speed t-bones. Just build a 100- to 200-metre diameter roundabout with correctly angled approach and exit lanes that large vehicles can safely navigate without fear of crossing traffic or causing anything more than a glancing blow in an altercation. We have ample space in Manitoba to accommodate them. Manitobans deserve no less. Bob Sales Winnipeg It is not only Winnipeggers who are in for a property tax shock. Many homeowners throughout Manitoba are similarly affected and will see huge increases in property and education taxes. It is indeed caused by current NDP policy that affects both assessments, education tax levy and education tax credits. The NDP has removed spending cap for school divisions, they have also fixed the Manitoba School Tax Rebate at $1,500 instead of a percentage calculation, and have skewed property tax assessments by some odd market value calculation for 2025. I cannot determine if the property tax credit advance of $350 is still in place, but for the moment I will assume it has not changed. The municipality has done its job in holding the budget and calculating the required mil rate. For my rural subdivision, with no property improvements and no municipal improvements, the assessment has gone up 29 per cent, municipal taxes have gone up 13 per cent, and the Manitoba school tax has gone up a whopping 50 per cent for an overall increase of 25 per cent which equates to about a $1,000 on 35-year-old properties. Note that because there were no changes to the property and the assessment increase was solely due to 'market value,' there was no ability to appeal. Further, the assessment was done six months prior to the establishment of the mil rates for property and education tax, so the impact of the assessment increase was totally unknown until now when the municipality established the mil rates. This is tough to deal with and is exacerbated by a 30 per cent increase in home insurance, a 10 per cent increase in auto insurance, and an ever-escalating increase in electricity, gas and water utilities. Never mind how hard it is to afford a first home, it is equally hard to afford the one you are currently living in. Something needs to change, and the current provincial government is at the root these unfair increases. They broke it, they have to fix it. Maybe read the 1994 Norrie Report on schools for starters. Gerry Shuster Selkirk Re: 'International example' (Letters, May 16) Kudos to the writer who praised Finland's success in eliminating homelessness. It's refreshing — and frustrating — to see this kind of admiration expressed, once again, in a letter to the editor. Why does it always stop there? When are we going to wake up? Scandinavian countries continue to offer Canada clear, proven alternatives: comprehensive health care that includes vision, dental, and hearing; high-quality elder care; tuition-free post-secondary education; and a robust network of social supports that foster both security and opportunity. These aren't Utopian fantasies — they are functioning, successful systems. Yes, critics will point to high tax rates. But let's be honest: the return on that public investment is staggering. In exchange, citizens enjoy stability, equity, and peace of mind — something far too many Canadians now lack. The benefits of a well-funded, well-planned public sector are simply too great to ignore. It's time for Canadian governments — federal, provincial, and municipal — to actively pursue closer ties with our Nordic counterparts. Learn from them. Adapt their ideas. Build a better, fairer future. There is much to gain, and even more to lose by staying the course. Robert Milan Victoria, B.C. Re: Treating heart failure to help heal health system (Think Tank, May 13) The article written by Dr. Shelley Zieroth, I swear, was written for me. Unfortunately, I am a Manitoban living with heart failure. I have recently been diagnosed with heart failure. My initial journey, with a concern that something was wrong with my heart, began in February at my family physician's office. My wonderful doctor put me on heart medication and started the ball rolling with referrals for cardiac testing and a referral to a cardiologist. Unfortunately, a few days later, my wife called 911 as I knew I was in trouble. Firefighters and paramedics arrived and took me to St. Boniface Hospital's emergency department on Feb. 22, as I was in AFIB and atrial flutter. I described this as 28 hours of hell. I was discharged the same way I came in, with the exception of a referral to a cardiologist. Countless calls and visits to the family physician adjusted my medications to keep me afloat until I could be seen by a cardiologist. On March 5, I collapsed, and my wife called 911. I refused to go to St. Boniface because of my previous experience; I said I'd rather die at home. On March 6, I collapsed again, and my wife called 911. They took me to Concordia Urgent Care, where I was stabilized and kept for three days. A consult was made with internal medicine and a cardiologist while I was in the hospital. I was discharged from Urgent Care with no mention of getting a Holter monitor or an echocardiogram, which are essential for properly diagnosing heart failure and the ejection fraction of my heart. Finally, on March 12, I visited the Asper Institute to meet with a nurse practitioner. I asked for a Holter monitor, only to be told, 'We know you are in AFIB.' Finally, on April 12, I was seen by a cardiologist who ordered an echocardiogram and Holter monitoring. A month passed between my visit with the nurse practitioner and the time I was seen by the cardiologist for diagnostic testing. No echocardiograms or Holter monitoring were done by two hospitals or the Asper Institute. Ironically, I was sent to the Asper Institute for 24-hour Holter monitoring. A miscommunication regarding when to start a blood thinner and antiarrhythmic again delayed my treatment. Finally, on April 22, my body had enough, and I was taken back to St. Boniface emergency, where treatment was given, and I spent a week in the hospital. I will say the care was excellent. Thousands of dollars' worth of diagnostic testing was done on me, with the exception of the initial essential echocardiogram and Holter Monitoring. On May 9, I received a referral to MyCardia for a Treadmill Stress Test on July 17, with a followup on Sept. 3; clearly, I cancelled this appointment. So, I am pleading with Premier Wab Kinew and Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara to listen very carefully to what Dr. Zieroth is telling our government about establishing a provincewide cardiac hub. Bill Worthington Winnipeg
Yahoo
17-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
RCUT project to begin this week in Daviess County
HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT) – Officials say a contractor for the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) is scheduled to begin a $3.5 million highway safety project along the U.S. 60 in Daviess County this week that will see the addition of Restricted Crossing U-Turns (RCUT) at Wright's Landing and Hawes Boulevard. The KYTC says Scotty's Contracting and Stone, LLC plans to begin the project on March 18. The contractor will begin milling and paving operations along the westbound median of the highway at 6:30 a.m. on Tuesday, which will result in lane restrictions on the westbound side of U.S. 60 through the project area. Lane restrictions will be in place from Monday at 6:30 a.m. until Friday at 3 p.m. There are no planned restrictions over the weekend. Lane restriction changes to I-69 rehab project in Madisonville Officials say rather than disrupting or slowing traffic flow along the primary route, as would happen with a traffic signal, RCUTs are specifically designed to allow vehicles on that roadway to continue unimpeded. Vehicles exiting Wright's Landing and Hawes Boulevard onto U.S. 60, however, will follow a different traffic pattern. Instead of going straight across the highway, which forces drivers to cross four lanes of oncoming traffic at a 90-degree angle or crossing two lanes to make a left turn, all drivers will now turn right. Vehicles will then utilize a newly constructed U-turn lane to make a left turn and merge with traffic on U.S. 60. The KYTC says the project is scheduled to be completed by mid-November 2025. This will be the second RCUT in KYTC Madisonville's district, with the first beginning construction in Henderson County along the U.S. 41 strip on March 6. 'Eyewitness News. Everywhere you are.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
