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This article was published 27/4/2017 (1240 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

All property owners at the intersection of Portage and Main are now in support of reopening the corner to pedestrians.

Mayor Brian Bowman told council Wednesday he recently received a letter of support from the Bank of Montreal.

However, there is still no indication when the reopening will take place.

A spokesman for Bowman’s office said while the intersection’s property owners — Bank of Montreal, Scotiabank, Harvard Development, Artis REIT and the Richardsons — are in favour of the reopening, discussions between city hall and property owners are ongoing.

Reopening the intersection was one of Bowman’s commitments when he was running for mayor job in 2014.

He renewed the promise a year ago, when he said he wanted it opened in time for the start of the Canada Summer Games in July 2017. As the start of those events approaches, the chances of a summer opening appear remote.

Opening the city’s iconic intersection is a controversial subject.

PHIL HOSSACK / FREE PRESS FILES While the Portage and Main property owners — Bank of Montreal, Scotia Bank, Harvard Development, Artis REIT and the Richardsons — are in favour of the re-opening, discussions are ongoing.

Opponents say removing the barriers invites a disaster that will delay traffic and pose a serious risk to pedestrians.

Many people mistakenly believe traffic concerns were the only reason that prompted the placement of barriers in 1979.

In fact, the barriers went up as part of a deal with the original developer that constructed Winnipeg Square, the underground mall.

Supporters argue the barriers need to be removed to allow pedestrian connection to the different areas of the heart of the city — the downtown, The Forks and the east and west exchange districts.

They say the removal will encourage street-level development in the surrounding area as more pedestrians move through the area.

The property owners are finalizing their own plans to co-ordinate with the intersection re-opening but want to see a plan from the city on how it will renovate the underground concourse.

Winnipeg CAO, Doug McNeil, said a complete report on the reopening, including cost and impact, will be brought to council later this year.

Meanwhile, a consultant’s report looking into traffic impacts remains a secret document. While the report was completed in the fall, McNeil refuses to make it public.

aldo.santin@freepress.mb.ca