One of the main arteries to Winnipeg for local drivers is becoming safer and more convenient.

Construction recently began on designated passing lanes on either side of Highway 3 North from Boundary Trails Health Centre to Winnipeg.

Manitoba Infrastructure and Transportation's Doug Struthers explained the additional lanes were needed because the highway can easily get congested, making it difficult for vehicles to pass.

Passing vehicles at highway speeds with oncoming traffic can be challenging on this roadway. However, with the designated passing lanes for both north and south bound traffic, Struthers said it eliminates the risk of having a head-on-collision.

The passing lanes allow slower traffic to move into the right-hand lane to allow other vehicles to pass them.

"The passing lanes basically are designated two-kilometre section, where it makes no difference if it's busy or not. You still have the opportunity to go out and pass," said Struthers.

The roughly $2.7 million project will have two passing lanes, one northbound and one southbound. Struthers noted the plan is to have these passing lanes spread out intermittently all the way to Winnipeg on highway three.

According to Struthers, the goal is to have the first two installments of passing lanes complete by the end of October.