A sigh of relief will be made this year for Portagers when the west-end overpass undergoes replacement. Minister of Infrastructure Ron Schuler recounts the recent announcement.

"As you know, that bridge was announced in our budget speech," says Schuler. "It's very exciting news. That bridge has taken probably about all the hits it can. Around here we call it the Christmas Bridge because all that bridge wants for Christmas is its two front teeth. It's missing an awful lot."

He notes details, including traffic rerouting through town so as to maintain access to local merchant businesses, rather than redirecting it through the Trans-Canada bypass, have not yet been addressed.

"It's time to replace it," continues Schuler. "It's far below the national standard as far as height is concerned. Insofar as to how we're going to do it, that's not been finalized. The Department will deal with the councils. I think we're going to wait until we have some open houses to get a little bit more feedback and conversations with the local authorities."

Despite many mistaken notions from residents that the City of Portage has been shirking its responsibility to replace the bridge, it's not responsible for repair work on a provincial overpass. Both the RM and the City of Portage have consistently petitioned the province for replacement work to begin.

Some unsightly views we won't miss: