History
Before Route 280 existed, the only ways to the northern terminus town of Gillam was via a nearby airport to the southeast of town and the HBR railroad line that stretched from Thompson to northern parts of Manitoba. The railroad opened in 1929.
On March 28, 2002, the government of Manitoba order out an CAD$84.8 million plan to work on its province's roads. $940,000 was spent for gravel stabilization beginning at PR 391 and ending in Gillam. This work was also under the Community Main Access Gravel Road Stabilization Program. $700,000 of this $84 million went for additional gravel between 391 and PR 290. $600,000 went to road development near Wasakamew Lake, 52 kilometres (32 mi) north of PR 391.
The Ininew (Cree) Indian Reserve of York Landing, Manitoba depends heavily on PR 280 for supplies of bulk goods. In April 2001, alternate route systems were blueprinted to make an all-winter road. The first was an all weather-road via the town of Birthday Rapids. It would cost $45 million including a bridge over the Nelson River in Split Lake. Being that most road access is from Thompson, there would be a 95 kilometres (59 mi) detour to the PR 280/Split Lake Road intersection, providing access to the town of Ilford and eliminating the need for a ferry crossing to York Landing.
The second plan was an all-weather road via the proposed Gull Lake Hydro-Electric Dam. This plan would cost $47 million, including a 180 kilometres (110 mi) detour to the same intersection, PR 280/Split Lake Road. This option did propose an all-weather road to both Ilford and Gillam. The nearby Nelson River would be used for the Gull Rapids hydro-electric generating station. The third choice, most preferred by the community of York Landing, would cost $65 million and provide the most access to Provincial Road 280. The road would be 75 kilometres (47 mi) long and need bridges over the Odei, Grass and Burntwood Rivers. The fourth plan would not affect PR 280 in any way.
Read more about this topic: Manitoba Provincial Road 280
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