St. James Street (Winnipeg)

St. James Street is a major street in the Canadian city of Winnipeg, Manitoba. It is a heavily-traveled street linking Portage Avenue, Polo Park, and the St. James Industrial area.

Route description

St. James Street begins near the Assiniboine River in a small residential area south of Portage Avenue (Route 85) and runs north, parallel to Route 90. North of Portage Avenue, it enters the Polo Park and Old St. James districts, one of the city's busiest retail and commercial areas. Further north, it enters the St. James Industrial Park, which encompasses the area near the Winnipeg airport, located west on Wellington Avenue. St. James Street ends at Notre Dame Avenue.

History

St. James Street is named after the former parish of Saint James. The parish was divided after the extension of Winnipeg city limits in 1882, when St. James Street became the city's new western boundary.^[1][2] Since 1972, St. James Street has served as the boundary between the major districts of St. James-Assiniboia and the West End. At one time, the city's major sports venues were located along St. James Street, including the Winnipeg Arena, Winnipeg Stadium, and the Polo Park Racetrack.

St. James Street is regarded by local residents as one of the most poorly maintained streets in the city. It has been voted as the "Worst Road in Manitoba" twice in annual polls conducted by CAA Manitoba. Local government has since placed a priority on upgrading the street.^[3]

References