WINNIPEG – A landmark intersection in Winnipeg is set to reopen today to pedestrians more than four decades after it closed.
Mayor Scott Gillingham is expected to take part in a ceremonial first crossing at the Portage Avenue and Main Street intersection later today when it opens to pedestrians in the city’s downtown.
The landmark intersection has inspired a song, a stamp, and been a place where people have congregated by the thousands to celebrate milestones and protest injustices.
Concrete barriers have prevented pedestrian crossings at the intersection for 46 years, forcing people to go through an underground concourse.
City council voted to open up the intersection last year after a study found that carrying out repairs in the area while maintaining the underground walkway would cost $73 million and disrupt traffic for years.
The move has critics arguing the barriers should be kept in place to reduce accidents and traffic snarls, while advocates say forcing pedestrians to walk underground creates an accessibility issue.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 27, 2025.
