Motorists in Winnipeg may soon be able to drive a little faster on some streets, where the speed limit may be raised from 50 km/h to 60.

The Manitoba Traffic Board is thinking of raising the limit on four-lane divided roadways, such as Grant Avenue, where it's currently set at 50 km/h.

The provincial board reviewed speed limits in Winnipeg because it receives many calls from drivers who believe the current limit is too slow, according to officials.

"Having the speed set at 60 doesn't necessarily make it more safe or less safe. It's just consistent," board chairman Alfred Rivers said Monday.

But Bill Thiessen, a driving instructor in Winnipeg, said an increase in speed could mean an increase in collisions.

"I believe there is no need to keep going quicker all the time," he said.

"If there [are] kids running across or old people in these other buildings running across, you know, they probably have close calls already as it is."

Public hearings coming up

Four roadways, including Grant Avenue between Kenaston Boulevard and Stafford Street, will be reviewed by the traffic board at a public hearing set for Nov. 27.

According to the provincial government, the other streets under consideration are:

• Dugald Road between a point 400 metres east and west of Plessis Road.
• Pembina Highway between Ducharme Avenue and the bridge crossing the La Salle River.
• Waverley Street between Taylor Avenue and Grant Avenue.

The board will also consider whether to raise the speed limit from 60 km/h to 80 on Pembina Highway from Rue des Trappistes to south of Turnbull Drive, as well as increase the limit from 90 km/h to 100 between Turnbull Drive and city limits.

Then on Dec. 4, the board will look at raising the speed limit from 50 km/h to 60 on three more Winnipeg streets:

• Corydon Avenue between Kelvin Boulevard and Cambridge Street.
• Roblin Boulevard between Haney Street and Wexford Street.
• University Crescent between Chancellor Matheson Road and Pembina Highway.

The last public hearing will be on Dec. 11 and will consider increasing the limit on a number of roadways:

• Broadway between Osborne Street and Main Street.
• Memorial Boulevard/Colony Street/Balmoral Street between Broadway and Qu'Appelle Avenue.
• Isabel/Salter Street between William Avenue and Stella Avenue.
• Main Street between Assiniboine Avenue and Manitoba Avenue.
• Inkster Boulevard between Lansdowne Avenue and Main Street.
• Moray Street between Portage Avenue and Ness Avenue.
• Wellington Avenue between the east limit of James Armstrong Richardson International Airport and St. James Street.

The following streets are already under review, although no public hearings have been set:

• Kenaston Boulevard
• Taylor Avenue
• Provencher Boulevard