After 46 years, Winnipeg’s iconic Portage and Main intersection is set to officially reopen to foot traffic on Friday, June 27, 2025. This highly anticipated event marks a significant shift for downtown Winnipeg, which has seen pedestrians directed through an underground concourse since 1979. The reopening, driven by rising costs to maintain the underground passage and a desire to revitalize the street level, will introduce new crosswalks, updated traffic signals, and wider sidewalks, coinciding with the launch of Winnipeg’s new Primary Transit Network.
In 1979, the most famous corner in Canada was blocked off and went underground. At the time, about 3,000 to 4,000 people worked within a block of the intersection. At every light cycle, there were hundreds of people crossing and buses galore discharging riders. Some called it the windiest corner in Canada—and they weren’t wrong. In the dead of winter, going out without your coat was a real risk.
The Trizec project, which involved the city demolishing existing buildings and putting up a massive parkade in support of a private 32-storey tower, changed everything. The city, taking cues from places like Montreal, Toronto, and Minneapolis, believed skywalks and underground pathways were the preferred solution for cold-weather cities. Some residents resented being forced underground to cross the street, but the development gained broad acceptance, especially with the addition of a mall in Winnipeg Square.
The 2018 plebiscite on reopening Portage and Main was defeated 2 to 1. Still, the more pressing issue of crumbling infrastructure was left unaddressed. Many felt nothing needed to be done, despite persistent water leaks. Eventually, a report estimated that repairing the concourse could cost over $70 million and would likely involve lengthy road closures.
Some questioned both the cost and the timeframe. Many argued that reopening the intersection would be dangerous and cause traffic nightmares across downtown. Back in 1975, it was one of the busiest corners in the city. Several grain-handling companies along Main Street—each employing hundreds—had their head offices there: the Manitoba Wheat Pool, United Grain Growers, the Canadian Wheat Board, and others.
In the 1970s, every major Canadian bank had a regional vice-president based in Winnipeg, and Portage and Main was full of banks, insurance, and trust companies. At the time, the Richardson Building was the only tower at the intersection. That began to change when Trizec proposed a development for the southwest corner.
The city demolished five existing buildings, built a massive three-deck parkade, and by 1978, Trizec completed the 32-floor tower—just in time for the worst recession since the Great Depression. The crash of 1980 hit Winnipeg hard. Many floors in the new Trizec building remained dark for years.
The concourse largely achieved its purpose of moving people efficiently from corner to corner. While newcomers often found it confusing, those who worked in the area grew to appreciate it, especially as it offered direct access to Winnipeg Square’s food court, restaurants, shops, and services. As the Trizec building gradually filled in during the 1980s, Portage and Main adapted to the new underground network. Security was sufficient to keep incidents like attacks, retail theft, and panhandling under control—though the above-ground entrances occasionally posed problems. Concrete barricades blocked sightlines, and the stairways sometimes became places for people to sleep or use as restrooms. This developed over time.
Following the pandemic, the cost of rehabilitating the concourse shocked City Council. While some still disputed the estimates, it was clear that the situation could no longer be ignored. This wasn’t like the Civic Parkade, which the city allowed to deteriorate until an engineer finally banned vehicles out of concern it might collapse. Winnipeg has a habit of letting infrastructure decay until forced to shut it down.
Recently, the city has seen indoor swimming pools close across town due to neglect. New road construction is prioritized, while road repairs are often delayed. Meanwhile, the city continues to request more funding—for sewage plants, for instance—while funneling millions into new roads. Urban density has decreased in many areas, while suburban sprawl has expanded. High-speed traffic routes to suburbs have taken priority, leaving residential neighbourhoods to cope with speeders.
With the barricades now removed, Portage and Main looks almost bare. Work is ongoing to repave roads and install traffic signals. The reopening date is still set for June 27, 2025. The total cost for reopening the intersection is just under $22 million. It remains unclear whether further work will be required to prevent the concourse from deteriorating further or collapsing.
The four corners of Portage and Main, all privately owned, have seen significant investment over the past five years. The Richardson family has invested heavily in upgrades to the square surrounding their buildings, including some of the province’s most impressive public art installations. The square has been improved, and the Fairmont Hotel—recently repurchased by the Richardson family—is undergoing a multimillion-dollar renovation.
These changes coincide with updates to bus routes, the Graham transit corridor, and the broader construction season. Fortunately, the summer school break will reduce rush hour traffic for a couple of months. Still, transit changes are expected to create confusion. Some bus stops are being relocated, making them less convenient. Others are replacing street parking, frustrating nearby merchants. Public backlash is likely.
Managing the volume of buses at Portage and Main will be a challenge. In the 1970s, it was already a major transit hub—and a source of complaints. At every light cycle, the intersection was packed with pedestrians. People have long grumbled about traffic delays, especially those who want to drive quickly through downtown and slow down only when they reach their own neighbourhoods.
Today, Winnipeg has larger and busier intersections than Portage and Main. Kenaston and Sterling Lyon, for instance, handles high traffic volumes with complex turning lanes—three in one direction, two in another—without forcing people underground or onto overpasses. While it’s true that pedestrian and bike traffic may be lower there, it remains navigable for all users.
One ongoing concern is panhandling. Regardless of configuration, it’s unlikely the center of the intersection will ever be completely safe for pedestrians if people continue to stand there. Police and social services must ensure the area doesn’t become another encampment. In areas like Higgins, encampments are cleared only to return the next day. Transitional housing is coming, but it’s slow to receive funding, slow to build, and demand is increasing. This is made worse by persistent mental health and addiction issues.
It’s too soon to say whether reopening the intersection is good or bad. Private businesses have made strides to improve the area, and the new Métis Museum in the old Bank of Montreal building may become a tourist draw. The two steakhouses on the corner may also see increased foot traffic. In fact, pedestrian activity may finally return in a meaningful way.
No one expects a retail revival. Businesses like newsstands have all but disappeared. Some storefronts are empty, and it’s unclear if landlords will be motivated to lease them or simply leave them vacant. Still, there may be opportunities for pop-up shops, small restaurants, or even food carts right on the corner. If Broadway can host vendors year-round, why not Portage and Main?
Time will tell. Portage and Main is wide enough to accommodate both vehicles and pedestrians. How well it functions remains to be seen. Cyclists may be the group most concerned, as they had hoped for dedicated lanes along Portage and Main. They may instead gravitate toward Graham Avenue, where several blocks are already reserved for bikes and pedestrians only.
This has been a guest editorial by John Dobbin.
To read more from John, visit his blog Observations, Reservations, Conversations.
