Winter highway closures cost the Manitoba economy millions. Work is underway to help prevent that

As winter bears down on Manitoba, highway closures are inevitable. Those closures — especially on the Trans-Canada Highway — can cost the Manitoba economy millions of dollars. 

But work happening along the province's busiest east-west corridor could help mitigate highway closures, while also helping the environment. 

The Manitoba Habitat Conservancy has been working since 2020 to revitalize and replant highway shelterbelts — rows of trees or shrubs that can shelter highways from strong winds that can build up snow and reduce visibility.

"The main thing we are looking at is the windbreak," said Kathy Murray, a habitat conservation specialist with the conservancy — a charitable organization that works to deliver conservation programs in the province.

Standing near a section of newly planted trees and shrubs east of Portage la Prairie, Murray said a 30-kilometre stretch of the Trans-Canada between Headingley and Portage has either had new shelterbelts planted, or had existing treelines revitalized.  

"This stretch of highway was chosen because it gets treacherous in the winter, and highway closures are often happening in this stretch," said Murray.

That section of Highway 1 was closed 24 times due to poor weather conditions between 2019 and 2023, according to figures provided by the Manitoba government. 

Murray said three rows of trees and shrubs were planted along the highway. The species chosen are all native to Manitoba and able to withstand harsh growing conditions. 

"We chose a little beyond the typical shelterbelt plantings," she said, noting that larger trees were selected and transplanted so any benefits of the windbreak can be seen sooner. 

The shelterbelts also provide benefits to farm fields along the Trans-Canada — helping protect against topsoil erosion, while also attracting pollinators and helping lock in soil moisture in dry years, she said.

Aaron Dolyniuk, president of the Manitoba Trucking Association, told CBC News that each time there's a closure on Highway 1 — which spans about 490 kilometres across Manitoba — there's a hit to the economy.

"It grinds to a halt," Dolyniuk said.

That impact isn't just to truckers' time.

The trucking association analyzed closures during the winter of 2021-22 and found five such weather-related closures of Highway 1 west of Winnipeg cost operators a combined $3.2 million, factoring in time, delays and fuel.