The purpose of Spring Road Restrictions is to protect Manitoba’s surfaced pavements from undue damage by reducing allowable axle weights during the spring thawing season. In consultation with those affected by these weight reductions, Manitoba Infrastructure and Transportation (MIT) periodically revises its policies and procedures to reflect the current transportation trends, industry needs and weather patterns. Up to date policies and procedures help industry improve trip planning while minimizing the impact of loads to the weak pavement structures when they are at their most vulnerable conditions.
General guidelines to Spring Road Restrictions are provided here. Please refer to The Highway Traffic Act for specific details.
Notification of Affected Highways
Spring road restrictions are determined through collection and analysis of data from the previous year, resulting in the evaluation and determination of which roads will be subject to restriction in the upcoming spring season. To assist motor carriers, farmers, businesses and other interested parties in preparation, the Spring Road Restriction Order, identifying affected roadways, is made available at the MIT website in the fall with subsequent update(s) as required. Advertisements announcing that the upcoming spring road restrictions order is available, and information on how to obtain the Order, are published in the fall and in February prior to the restrictions start date in the following publications:
La Liberte
Winnipeg Free Press
Winnipeg Sun
Brandon Sun
Copies of the Spring Road Restriction Order can be obtained by:
viewing/printing the Official Spring Road Restriction Order
contacting Permit Services at (204) 945-3961, or toll free at 1-877-812-0009
contacting local Manitoba Infrastructure and Transportation Offices and Weigh Stations
Please check this web site and Highway Information line (511) regularly for changes throughout the restriction period.
Web site: Refer to this web site often for updated orders, changes in start and end dates, Summary of Changes from last year, Allowable Axle Weights, SRR Maps and more.
Highway Information Line: Information will be available through a verbal description of road restrictions at 511, or 1-877-627-6237 outside Manitoba.
Implementation dates:
March 11 is the earliest date for the start of the spring road restrictions (SRR) in both climate zones. The start date in a climate zone may be delayed in years of late thaw. This is determined based on the trend of thawing index in each zone. May 31 is the latest date for the end of the SRR. SRR may be ended earlier in a climate zone depending upon weather conditions (trend of the thawing index) in that climate zone. The maximum duration of the SRR will be 56 days within the time period from March 11 to May 31, with the exception of seasons that experience unusual weather conditions.
