March 31, 2020
Province Eases Spring Road Restrictions to Aid Transportation of Essential Commodities
The Manitoba government is easing 2020 Spring Road Restrictions to aid the transportation of essential commodities, Infrastructure Minister Ron Schuler announced today.
“In order to allow vehicles to more easily transport essential goods during the current COVID-19 pandemic, we are easing spring road restrictions in certain circumstances,” said Schuler. “This will help ensure communities continue to have access to items such as medical supplies, groceries and emergency equipment at this crucial time.”
Under normal conditions, spring weight restrictions are enforced on Manitoba’s surfaced roads during the spring. This protects roads from excessive damage by reducing the axle weights of heavy commercial vehicles during the period when roads are most at risk of weakening under spring rains and thawing.
Under the revised restrictions, a vehicle may transport essential commodities at normal loading on highways that are subject to Level 1 road restrictions. Additionally, essential commodities may be transported at normal loading on roads subject to Level 2 restrictions, under the following conditions:
• If the highway links two points on the vehicle’s itinerary that are less than 10 kilometres apart, or in any other case if the highway is the most direct route between a point on the itinerary and the nearest highway that is not subject to Level 2 road restrictions. A point on the itinerary means that the vehicle is picking up, or dropping off a load on that Level 2 restricted highway.
• If the essential commodities are transported between midnight and noon during the first 14 days of this restriction order, or at any time of the day after the 14th day.
Vehicles that are travelling empty to pick up essential commodities, or travelling empty after having delivered them, may travel at any time of the day at Level 1 weights on highways that are subject to Level 2 road restrictions, if they comply with the above-noted conditions.
Essential commodities include groceries, medical supplies, fuel, fertilizer, bulk milk, potable water for non-industrial use, emergency equipment and materials, and mail delivery on behalf of the Canada Post Corporation. It also includes livestock and livestock feed in transit, and hay for feed in transit within Manitoba.
For the 2020 Spring Road Restrictions season, a permit is not required to transport grain to satisfy grain quotas or contracts, or to transport potatoes or vegetables from producer to processor, and these commodities are eligible for the normal loading described above.
Vehicles are not authorized to travel over a bridge or other structure in excess of posted weight restrictions.
For complete details on road restrictions, visit www.gov.mb.ca/mit/srr/index.html.
- 30 -