Manitoba drivers may have to hold it in as province mulls rest stop cuts
WINNIPEG — Finding a place to stop and answer nature’s call along Manitoba’s highways could soon be a bit more challenging.
The provincial government is considering whether to close some highway rest areas where toilets are freely available throughout tourist season. Drivers seeking a restroom, or simply a place to pull off and rest, would have to go to a gas station or other private business.
“We’re finding that, especially families with young children, they want a little bit more service than just a washroom. And those are provided by gas stations and restaurants along the way,” Infrastructure Minister Ron Schuler said Tuesday.
A review of the Pine Grove rest area — the only one on the Trans-Canada Highway between Winnipeg and Ontario — is already underway. The rest area’s sewage lagoon needs a $1.6-million overhaul, Schuler said, and the government will soon decide whether to do the repairs or shut it down.