On June 25, a public open house was held to present the final recommendation from Manitoba Transportation and Infrastructure regarding upgrades to the intersection of Highway 5 and Highway 1 near Carberry—the site of a tragic collision two years ago that claimed the lives of 17 people.

As many had predicted, the department’s recommended solution is an R-CUT, or Restricted Crossing U-Turn—a modern highway design that would eliminate direct crossing of the highways. Instead, vehicles on Highway 5 would be required to turn onto Highway 1, drive a short distance, then complete a U-turn to continue in the opposite direction. This design is more common in the United States, with only one current example in Canada, located outside Saskatoon.

Local opposition to the R-CUT has been strong and persistent. Residents, municipal leaders, and farmers have voiced concerns for months, particularly about the challenges this design could pose for heavy trucks and agricultural vehicles frequently using the intersection. At earlier consultation sessions, locals made it clear that they did not support the proposed configuration. A protest was even held near the intersection several weeks prior to the open house, underscoring public frustration.

The Town of Carberry and the Municipality of North Cypress-Langford have both gone on record opposing the R-CUT, pushing instead for infrastructure that prioritizes safety and practicality. While the community’s ideal outcome would be a full interchange—similar to what’s often built near Winnipeg—many say they would accept a widened median with full stops, one of the three shortlisted options presented earlier in the process.

The June 25 event, held in an open house format at the Carberry Community Memorial Hall, featured display boards and consultants available to answer questions. However, there was no formal presentation or scheduled speaker. This frustrated many attendees, who had hoped for a more structured opportunity to express their concerns. When it became clear that no official address would be made, community members called out for a spokesperson to engage with them directly.

Despite the setup, Carberry residents turned out in strong numbers and made their voices heard. Activists presented a petition with more than 2,100 signatures opposing the R-CUT to Donovan Toews of Landmark Planning & Design, the consulting firm leading public engagement. Toews was asked to bring the petition and concerns back to the provincial government.

Notably absent from the event was Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Lisa Naylor.

While the R-CUT has been named as the department’s recommendation, the government has not yet made a final decision. Residents remain hopeful that public pressure will influence the outcome, with the possibility still open for an alternative solution.

Also in This Episode: Community Spirit on Full Display

We also cover a series of inspiring community events this week:

• Kiwanis Club Charter & Music Bingo (3:27): We attend the official chartering ceremony of the new Kiwanis service club and speak with the driving force behind its creation, highlighting the impact the club hopes to make locally.

• 2025 NACI Grad Parade (14:57): Graduates from Neepawa Area Collegiate Institute took part in a joyful grad parade—an event born during the COVID era that continues to bring students out into the community, including visits to senior living residences.

• Touchwood Park Fundraiser at DQ (18:22): Supporters gathered for a community fundraiser in support of Touchwood Park.

• Dream Ride BBQ at Super Thrifty (18:53): Another local fundraiser brought out BBQ lovers to support the Dream Ride, raising money for special causes.

• Highway 1 & 5 Intersection Open House Recap (19:46): We return to the day’s major story, summarizing the feedback from residents and next steps in the provincial consultation process.