ManitobaA River Heights homeowner says it’s time for the City of Winnipeg to decide once and for all what its plans are for improving Kenaston Boulevard, after her family has spent more than two decades wondering and worrying about whether they will lose their home to expropriation. Carol Styles has been living with the threat of losing her home for over a decadeDave Baxter · CBC News · Posted: Oct 16, 2025 6:00 AM EDT | Last Updated: 5 hours agoHomeowner Carol Styles says it is time for the city to decide once and for all what its plans are for improving Kenaston Boulevard, after her family has spent more than a decade wondering whether they will lose their home to expropriation. (Travis Golby/CBC)A River Heights homeowner says it’s time for the City of Winnipeg to decide once and for all what its plans are for improving Kenaston Boulevard, after her family has spent more than two decades wondering and worrying about whether they will lose their home to expropriation. “Just get on with it already. People are just tired of the uncertainty,” said Carol Styles, while standing in front of her home on Carpathia Road, which runs parallel to Kenaston Boulevard. “I’m convinced something is going to happen — like, it has to. They’ve been talking about it forever.”The City of Winnipeg said earlier this month it is preparing to move forward with a long-planned expansion of Kenaston Boulevard, a major north-south route, and replacement of the St. James Bridge. The plan would make major upgrades to Route 90 from Taylor to Ness avenues, including adding one lane of traffic in either direction, expanding the road to six lanes from four. It would also include replacing both spans of the St. James bridge, which opened in 1962 and is nearing the end of its life, according to the city, as well as the replacement of combined sewers in the area. A rendering shows proposed plans for the St. James Bridge, which the city says must be replaced. (City of Winnipeg)Styles said city officials have been talking on and off about the possibility of widening Kenaston since she and her family moved into the home back in 2001, and they have lived under the constant fear that all or part of their home and property could be expropriated to make room for the project. The city says 78 properties in the area have been identified for “full or partial takings” for the project, including 50 owned by the Department of National Defence and 14 city-owned properties.”I know people that are in a much more difficult position than we are, but it is something that truthfully does kind of weigh on you,” said Styles.”But it waxes and wanes, because every time there’s a civic election or people think we’re going to get some shovel-ready funds, people start talking about it and score a few points, because everyone gets frustrated with the commute.”Traffic flow needs fix: residentDespite the real possibility of losing her home, Styles agrees something needs to be done to improve traffic flow on Kenaston near her home.”I challenge anyone to find somebody who doesn’t believe that that roadway needs improvement,” she said. “I think that’s something that most people can agree on. “It’s the scale and the scope, and the creep of this thing that’s frustrating.”She said she also wonders if the city has enough money to expropriate homes if it comes to that. She’s been told the city has approximately $5 million set aside for expropriations, but with the rising value of homes in the area, she doesn’t think that’s anywhere near enough. But the uncertainty has already pushed some to sell their homes and leave the area, according to Styles. “People who have the means to move have moved and have made that choice that’s best for them,” she said. “Other people have difficulty selling their homes.”Vehicles drive down Kenaston Boulevard, a major north-south route. (Travis Golby/CBC)The city said earlier this month the estimated cost of the entire project now sits at $757 million, including construction and interest — $20 million more than an estimate released last year.Coun. Janice Lukes, the chair of the city’s public works committee, said on Oct. 1 the project can’t be done by the city alone, and it needs other levels of government to step up with funding. According to the city, if council approves the plan, construction would start no later than 2027. The entire project, including widening, bridge replacement and land drainage work, would take five to six years, with a target completion date of 2032 or 2033, the city says.If it can’t secure funding in time to start by 2027, officials have warned they might have to scale the project back to bridge repairs alone, leading to still more uncertainty for Styles and many in her neighborhood. Lindsay Schellenberg, who also lives in the area, believes the full project should be undertaken no matter the price tag, saying traffic is constantly backed up in the area, causing frustration for drivers. Lindsay Schellenberg said she believes improvements should be made to Kenaston Boulevard no matter the price tag, given the frustration of constantly backed-up traffic. (Travis Golby/CBC)”It’s about time,” Schellenberg said. “[Having] it widened would just free up a lot of traffic in the area, so not as much congestion, and just better travel time for getting to and from work for people.”Charleswood resident Stephen White said he has wanted improvements to Kenaston for years. “I do know it’s one of the most ridiculous roads in Winnipeg, in my opinion … with the speed changes alone, and going from one side of the city to the other with stop lights all the way through,” he said.”I don’t like the road in general, and I avoid it wherever possible.”WATCH | Homeowners live under uncertainty about Kenaston expansion:Homeowners near Kenaston face years of uncertainty over expansionFor 24 years, Carol Styles and her family have lived in a home just east of Kenaston Boulevard. During those years, she’s lived with uncertainty, not knowing if her house will be expropriated by the City of Winnipeg in order to expand the boulevard from four to six lanes.ABOUT THE AUTHORDave Baxter is an award-winning reporter and editor currently working for CBC Manitoba. Born and raised in Winnipeg, he has also previously reported for the Winnipeg Sun and the Winnipeg Free Press, as well as several rural Manitoba publications.With files from Marcy Markusa, Cory Funk and Cameron MacLean
Uncertainty over Kenaston Boulevard expansion continues to frustrate Winnipeg homeowners
