MHCA acknowledges it is located on Treaty One land and the homeland of the Metis Nation

Stepped up enforcement and new ideas needed to keep roadside construction workers safe

The construction industry is asking the province to meet with it to discuss stepping up measures to protect workers, and the public, from injury and death in roadside work zones.

“Everyone’s workplace should be safe, but too often this is not the case for construction workers who are getting the job done very close to passing traffic,” MHCA President Chris Lorenc said. Lorenc is the Chair of the SAFE Roads Committee, a volunteer group composed of industry, agency and government representatives.

The MHCA, Winnipeg Construction Association, Merit Contractors. Manitoba Trucking Association and Heavy Equipment and Aggregate Truckers Association have set out their concerns, along with potential initiatives – including greater enforcement – in a joint letter sent November 30 to three ministers whose portfolios are related to the issues.

“We need strong action and enforcement to drive home the lessons.

We respectfully request your government to consider a number of initiatives be considered to support safety in the above settings. Those include:

  • Increased enforcement:
    • Stronger sanctions against those who break the laws designed to protect people in and around roadside construction zones including consideration of sharp increases in fines for repeat offences
    • Increase presence and enforcement by RCMP and police
    • Expansion of photo radar enforcement
  • More robust public awareness, through MPI and WCB campaigns
  • Increased use of mobile speed-feedback signs
  • Strengthened emphasis on construction zone safety in curriculum for driver education training.”

The letter to Ministers Ron Schuler, Cliff Cullen and Scott Fielding notes SAFE Roads has for some 15 years worked through public campaigns to increase awareness, and reduce risk from, hazards in construction zones near passing traffic.

Sadly, the injuries and deaths have continued. This year, for example, one motorist in rural Manitoba this past summer killed two people, including a 7-year-old, and gravely injured a number of others, all of whom were occupants of vehicles appropriately stopped at a highway construction zone.

As well, other incidents included:

  • A construction zone flagger was struck by, and carried off on the hood of, a vehicle
  • A vehicle struck the chute of a concrete truck; the chute hit a worker
  • A vehicle ran over a construction zone flagger’s foot.

Chair’s Gala

November 18, 2022
RBC Convention Centre

Close to 650pp attended from both industry, government and stakeholder partners.  It was the closing of Nicole Chabot’s two year term as Chair.  Dennis Cruise of Bituminex Paving was welcomed as the new Chair.

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2022 Heavy Santa

December 16, 2022
David Livingstone School

This event was made possible through fundraising at the MHCA Chair’s Gala and Spring Mixer.

104 goodie bags and presents were prepared for the grades 1-4 students at David Livingstone School. 

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Awards Breakfast & Annual General Meeting

November 18, 2022
RBC Convention Centre

Manitoba Transportation & Infrastructure (MTI) Award Winner

  • Grading – Strilkiwski Contracting Ltd.: PTH 6 Grahamdale
  • Paving – Coco Paving o/a Russell Redi-Mix: Bituminous Reconstruction PTH 83
  • Urban Works – Coco Paving o/a Russell Redi-Mix: Bituminous Reconstruction PA 634 and Bituminous Pavement PTH 5
  • Special Projects – Mekhana Development Corp/Arnason Industries Ltd: Theresa Point Airport
  • Major Structures – D. Steele Construction: Bridge Replacement over the Red River Floodway on PTH 59N
  • Minor Structures – Moncrief Construction Ltd.: Reinforced concrete box culvert on PTH 5
  • Water Management – Brunet Ltd.: Flood response, Morris ring dike closure

200 members and guests gathered to hear greetings from Premier Heather Stefanson and the newly elected Mayor of Winnipeg, Scott Gillingham. Hon. Doyle Piwniuk, Minister, Manitoba Infrastructure, handed out the MTI Awards.

31 companies were recognized for their milestone membership commitments.

Matthew Neziol, of Bayview Construction, received the Safety Leader Award.

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