Permit problems rammed home

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This article was published 12/08/2021 (1134 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Transport of a large display home that sparked the destruction of almost two dozen trees in the Charleswood neighbourhood is also being blamed for collisions with multiple road signs.

The apparently ill-fated journey is now the subject of a provincial investigation.

“The province is currently investigating the house move that started in Winnipeg on Saturday, Aug. 7, and continued on provincial infrastructure on Wednesday, Aug. 11. Government is also reviewing current provincial policies and/or processes to see if any changes are required,” a provincial spokesperson told the Free Press in an emailed statement.

The province confirmed the same home was moved on the two dates. On Wednesday, it struck an overhead sign on the Perimeter Highway’s Wilkes Avenue overpass, that route plans predicted it would clear, officials said.

The first leg began Saturday. Early that morning, a building transport company began to move a display home located near the corner of Roblin Boulevard and Scotswood Drive.

The structure was reportedly too wide to clear mature trees along the Roblin median. The Winnipeg Police Service said officers arrived to provide a previously scheduled escort around 7 a.m., when they discovered 17 mature trees had been cut down, allegedly by the vehicle’s driver.

WPS said officers halted the move and arrested the driver, who will face a charge of mischief over $5,000.

In an email, City of Winnipeg spokesman David Driedger said street signs were also damaged by the same operation, though he didn’t reveal how many were affected.

Driedger said it’s possible to temporarily remove signs to make room for the transport of oversized loads but the moving permit applicant must request such help.

“In this instance, trees were not identified by the applicant as being obstacles along the route, and some of the signs that were damaged do not appear to have been noted as obstacles in the application either.”

After area residents complained about the destruction of the trees, the city will attempt to prevent such losses in the future.

“We are reviewing the (permit) application process to more effectively identify boulevard and park trees as considerations for route assessments… and clarifying that they are in fact considered obstacles along a proposed route.”
– City of Winnipeg spokesman David Driedger

“We are reviewing the (permit) application process to more effectively identify boulevard and park trees as considerations for route assessments… and clarifying that they are in fact considered obstacles along a proposed route,” Driedger said.

The moving company obtained a Manitoba Infrastructure permit for the operation but failed to confirm the Charleswood route was accessible for the large load, Winnipeg police said Monday.

While the province approved the permit, it said the city reviewed the plan prior to that decision. Companies involved with such permits are expected to ensure the load fits the route.

Some politicians suggested additional oversight should be considered.

Mayor Brian Bowman said he was “incredibly angered” to see the tree damage and was perplexed to later spot the damaged Perimeter Highway sign.

“I believe the same house had hit one of the provincial signs on the Perimeter. It does kind of boggle the mind. What I would say is I want to ensure that those responsible are held fully accountable… If there are steps that need to be strengthened (either) provincially or municipally, I’ll support those as well,” said Bowman.

Coun. Kevin Klein (Charleswood-Tuxedo-Westwood) said the incidents should offer “a wakeup call” that leads the city and province to provide more oversight for the transfer of large loads.

“This doesn’t happen every day… However, it does call for a review of how these permits are approved. Apparently, a little more work has to go into it and you can’t just assume that the company is going to check everything.”

He said the province should consider raising permit fees to transfer especially large loads, so the added revenue can pay for government inspections on routes before an oversized load is moved.

“We need to do more due diligence on our part,” said Klein.

Driedger said the city expects to begin replanting the trees in spring, “pending compensation” it will seek for the damages.

In total, 23 Siberian elms were either removed or badly damaged Saturday, including six trees city forestry staff later determined had to be cut down.

On Saturday, photos of the scene showed a truck bearing Kola Building Movers Ltd. information. The company has declined interview requests.

joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @joyanne_pursaga