Manitoba Highway 83

PTH 83 first appeared on the 1953 Manitoba Highway Map.[1]

Prior to 1953, PTH 83 was originally numbered as Highway 22. In 1953, the government re-designated it to match U.S. Route 83. As well, the current section of the highway between Russell and Swan River was known as Highway 31.[2]

Originally, the highway's northern terminus was at the Trans-Canada Highway in Virden, making the original length of the highway 104 kilometres (65 mi). The section of PTH 83 between the Trans-Canada Highway and Birtle was opened to traffic in 1954. At the same time, the highway was extended to Swan River, replacing Highway 31.

A small portion of PTH 83 is being reconstructed between Roblin and Russell due to a large slide. The area affected is located one kilometre north of PR 366 at the bottom of the Shell Valley. Traffic is being detoured around that portion of highway. The slide became serious enough to close the road on July 2, 2012. The area which is closed has slid several times in the past years. It was once home to a lookout point over the Assessippi Valley. That lookout point was declared unsafe and was closed during a previous partial collapse of the road.[3]