Ground was broken this morning to officially mark the start of construction on a new entrance for the Assiniboine Park Zoo. The $5.5-million project is expected to be completed next spring.

Winnipeg's zoo gave a sneak peek of its new $5.5-million, 11,410-square-foot entrance on Tuesday, while addressing concerns by some about higher admission rates that will come into effect July 3.

The $5.5 million project is scheduled to be completed in spring 2014. It will be an 11,410-square-foot, multi-purpose facility located just east of the current zoo entrance at 2595 Roblin Blvd.

The Toronto Zoo is planning to renovate its main public entrance and gate with a new multi-purpose event and education space called "The Conservation Campus," according to its 2022 Master Plan.

Assiniboine Park Zoo remains closed as workers put the finishing touches on the Journey to Churchill exhibit but media got a sneak peek at the new entrance you'll go through when it reopens.

White made the comments as the zoo board was dealing with the Toronto Zoo's proposed operating budget for 2009. The zoo board finally approved a hold-the-line budget to send to Toronto's budget ...