Leif Norman photographer

“They never voted on closing the intersection in 1978!”

Portage and Main was closed to above ground pedestrian traffic in 1978 as part of a plan to drive pedestrians underground to shops and services devised by developers of some of the buildings on the intersection. This turned the area into a disability unfriendly dead zone where people were discouraged to be on the sidewalk level by the brutalesque concrete design and an embarrassment to Winnipeg and Canada’s most famous intersection.

The concrete stairs are crumbling. The money needs to be spent. More and more people are living downtown near Portage and Main, and so, if the Portage and Main is opened up to more pedestrian traffic then it will benefit everyone.

More people equals more money, so make Portage and Main people friendly.

Jets fans rush there to celebrate a win.

Wheelchairs take up to 15 minutes to get across because they are forced underground into a maze of stairs and unreliable lifts.

People thought The Forks was a waste of money too, and now it is a major destination for Winnipeggers all year long.

“Almost 40 years ago the Winnipeg City Council, desperate for development during an economic recession, closed Portage and Main to force pedestrian traffic into an underground mall in exchange for an office tower from a Toronto real estate developer.

Today, downtown is the home of the Winnipeg Jets, the SHED, and True North Square, the largest private development in downtown’s history. Nearly 20,000 people live and work near Portage and Main and the new developments in The Exchange District, Waterfront Drive, and The Forks will bring hundreds of new residents to the area.

Removing the barriers at Portage and Main and opening the intersection to pedestrian foot traffic will create new economic opportunity and tax revenue, and make our iconic intersection a welcoming and accessible place for us and our children.

On October 24 vote Yes on opening Portage and Main, and invest in a city and a downtown that future generations of Winnipeggers will be proud of.”  from https://voteopenwpg.ca