WINNIPEG, Man. — Manitoba has issued its first flood outlook for the spring of 2010, prompting a Conservative MLA to call on the government to devise a plan to keep the main truck route to the US open in the event of flooding.

Morris MLA Mavis Taillieu told local media yesterday that the province still has no plan to prevent the long-term closure of Hwy. 75 if flooding once again grips Manitoba.

“Flooding south of Winnipeg is a regular occurrence,” Taillieu said in a statement. “We had flooding in 2006. We had flooding last year. We have another flood looming on the horizon for 2010. Yet it seems that each year after the flood waters subside, we hear much talk from the NDP about plans to fix the problem, but we have yet to see any action.”

Taillieu contends Winnipeg’s goal of establishing itself as a major transportation hub for north-south trade is in jeopardy if it cannot assure shippers that the pivotal north-south corridor will remain open in the springtime.

Manitoba’s first flood outlook of 2010 calls for significant flooding on the Red River in southern Manitoba, but projects water levels will remain one to three feet below last year’s levels. Run-off from the Red River is expected to be above average from Emerson to Morris but average from Morris through Winnipeg, the province predicts.

To see the full flood outlook, visit here.