For the first time in nearly half a century, Winnipeg’s most famous intersection, Portage and Main, is open for pedestrians to cross at street level.

Last Friday morning, on June 27, crowds of Winnipeggers streamed onto the intersection as if reclaiming a landmark long out of reach. Excited visitors snapped photos, waved at passing cars, and paused in the middle to soak in the view of Winnipeg’s skyline from a perspective that had been off-limits for generations.

From early morning through the afternoon, groups of friends, solo commuters and curious onlookers took their time crossing all four corners. Some walked loops around the entire intersection just for the novelty. Dogs on leashes, babies in strollers, guitarists, a bagpipe player, and even a turtle joined in the first-day spectacle.

Mayor Scott Gillingham walked among the crowd, stopping to shake hands and chat with people at the newly-opened crosswalks. The moment marked a historic change for downtown Winnipeg. Since 1979, pedestrians wanting to cross Portage and Main had to use the underground concourse, which remained the only option for decades despite persistent debate about reopening the intersection to foot traffic.

Discussions about removing the barriers have long divided the city. In 2018, then-Mayor Brian Bowman put the question to a plebiscite. The result was famously visualized in the ‘doughnut graph,’ where the central downtown postal codes largely voted yes, but surrounding suburban areas overwhelmingly voted no.

Ultimately, practical considerations pushed the project forward.

“This came down to a practical decision. The underground concourse needs to be repaired and requires at least $73 million dollars compared to $20 million to open up the intersection,” said Gillingham.

The move was not only about economics, but also about revitalizing downtown life. Many downtown workers welcomed the change, hoping it would make the core feel more vibrant and connected.

“Traffic is moving seamlessly downtown and there are more people than I am used to seeing on a Friday,” said Morgan Shipley, who works near the intersection.

“I think this will encourage myself [and] colleagues to go out,” said Shipley. “There’s going to be more energy about doing things downtown other than just coming to work.” For some, the reopening was more than practical — it felt symbolic.

“It felt right. It felt empowering [to] walk around the intersection. It’s always been a gathering space, right? If the Jets win, we’re here. If there’s an important protest, then this is the place to be,” said Liam Speirs, local bagpipe musician.

For a city that often debates how best to support its downtown, the return of pedestrians to Portage and Main is both a logistical move and a cultural moment. Whether it will transform downtown Winnipeg in the long term remains to be seen, but on Friday, at least, the people made it clear they were ready to walk.