Crossroads Staff

The spring break-up season is upon heavy haulers operating in the area. Several rural municipalities in the west central region have road bans in place.

Several area municipalities including the RM of Kindersley have enacted their spring road bans. Snipe Lake and Winslow are two other municipalities to initiate their road bans for all heavy haul traffic. Bans are in effect until the snow melts, the ground thaws and the roads are dry.

According to the RM of Kindersley, ban weights are in effect on all roads within the municipality including the heavy haul roads. There is a list of vehicles that are exempt from road bans and the list is on the RM of Kindersley’s website.

People are encouraged to check for road restrictions in rural municipalities by contacting their designated road officials, municipal offices or third-party providers such as RoadData Services Ltd. Roads in several municipalities are restricted to secondary weights.

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Other municipalities are restricting road travel to only dry and frozen track. The province has lifted its winter weights in several parts of the province and spring road bans are now being enforced. Provincial highway officials encourage people to check with municipal offices for road ban information.

The municipalities of Snipe Lake, Milden, Pleasant Valley, Marriott, Reford and Senlac will be subject to provincial spring road restrictions as of midnight on March 31 under order by the minister of highways and infrastructure. The RM of Deer Forks has been removed, and is not subject to a spring road restriction at midnight on March 31.

Various rural municipalities might issue overweight permits, and they might also set weight restrictions that are lower than those in place with the province. It is another reason for people to check with municipal officials.

Glenda Giles, the administrator for the RM of Kindersley, said haulers have to check with the municipality’s enforcement officer before travelling on roads even if they are frozen and dry. She noted that spring road bans are nothing new for truckers in the area, so they know the routine.

The RM of Kindersley issues special circumstance permits, but they are issued on a per job basis with a route specified to the location and they have to be authorized by the municipal enforcement officer. Road bans are being heavily enforced in Kindersley.

Municipalities including Kindersley issue permits at no charge to service providers working for bonded companies during break up. There is a charge for all other service providers not working for bonded companies.

Giles said companies and haulers are responsible for the cost to repair roads if they damage the roads. The bonds are in place to ensure payment if any roads are damaged, but everyone must follow municipal rules and regulations, keep mud off all grid roads and travel on dry and frozen roads only. In Kindersley’s case, other restrictions might be put in place during road bans depending on weather and how well roads are holding up.

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