Your car could be next, Winnipeg, so watch out
Morning from the Central Plains — here's what's moving through Portage today. I saw something that just makes you shake your head and think, "well, that's a Manitoba morning for you." Over in Winnipeg, a fellow named Michael Burkholder woke up to a neighbour's message, not a good morning text, but one telling him his car was halfway swallowed by a sinkhole in the Wolseley neighbourhood. Just sitting there, front end down, like the road decided to take a bite.
Now, Portage isn't usually known for its surprise sinkholes, not like parts of Winnipeg where the old infrastructure can give way. We've got our own challenges with ground stability, especially near the Assiniboine River or when we get heavy rains that really work the drainage systems around the Diversion. But this story hits home because it’s about the unexpected, the kind of thing that makes you check your own driveway a little closer before you head out to the co-op or over to Simplot.
* **Infrastructure Stress:** It reminds you that all our towns and cities, from Portage to Brandon to Winnipeg, rely on underground systems that don't last forever. * **Weather Impact:** Heavy rains, like what we've seen this spring, put extra pressure on aging pipes and foundations, whether you're talking about a city street or the culverts under the Trans-Canada. * **Community Alertness:** It's a testament to good neighbours, though. Someone saw a problem and let the owner know right away. We see that kind of looking out for each other here in Portage, too.
For us here in Portage la Prairie, it's a reminder that while we're focused on the harvest and keeping the corridor moving, the ground beneath us needs attention too. Whether it's the roads around Stride Place or the access points to the processing plants, a sudden sinkhole could throw a real wrench in the works. It’s not just about getting goods to market; it’s about making sure the journey is sound.
Darren Flett, MiTL Sports Desk, Portage la Prairie.
The crew on the morning show are probably still laughing about this — catch their take live at mornings.live.