Thompson residents in the Westwood and Southwood neighbourhoods need to plan alternate routes this week as construction closes a section of Thompson Drive through Thursday, June 25. Work crews began removing curbs on Tuesday along Thompson Drive from Goldeye Crescent to just past Beaver Crescent, closing the road between Greenway Crescent and Westwood Drive. The intersections at Beaver Crescent and Westwood Drive are also closed, though residents can still get through with help from flaggers.
The City of Thompson issued two separate road construction notices for this week, with a second job starting June 24 on Dominion Bay. Drivers should expect delays and plan for extra travel time as the city continues its multi-year effort to rebuild aging roads and sewer lines. Residents can call Public Works at 204-677-7970 for more details directly from the city.
This work is part of a much larger infrastructure renewal program that Thompson launched several years ago. The $87 million, five-year plan is backed by $20 million in federal funding and $13.3 million from the province, with the goal of renewing about 20 kilometres of road. Mayor Colleen Smook, who has lived in Thompson for over 50 years, told CBC in 2024 that the city hasn’t seen this much construction since the 1970s and 1980s.
The Manitoba government has also outlined road upgrades for 2026 across the north, with Minister Lisa Naylor saying the planned projects will strengthen key corridors. While provincial crews focus on highways like Provincial Trunk Highway 5, local streets such as Thompson Drive and Dominion Bay are the city’s responsibility and are being handled under the ongoing renewal work.
Once curbs are removed, crews will address the road base, mill the surface, and lay new asphalt, part of the push to improve residential streets that see heavy use near schools and shopping in the southern part of town. Residents can watch the City of Thompson’s news and notices page for updates as the work continues.
