Manitoba's Spring Road Restriction (SRR) Program
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To assist motor carriers, farmers and businesses prepare for annual Spring Road Restrictions (SRR), Infrastructure and Transportation has implemented a new communication policy.
Data collected during SRR 2008 will be analyzed to determine which roads will be subject to restriction in 2009. The timeliness of this analysis will be done in a manner that will enable the list (or “order”) to be prepared by late summer, enabling the department to communicate restricted roads to interested parties in the autumn prior to the actual start date (March 18, 2009).
Interested parties can obtain a copy of the Order by:
• contacting Permit Services at (204) 945-3961, or toll free at 1-877-812-0009
• contacting local Infrastructure and Transportation offices and weigh stations.
• fax polling Permit Services at 1-204-945-6499
The expressed intention of this approach is to enable road users to plan ahead for restrictions season, and minimize the impact to the highway infrastructure when it is at its most vulnerable.
Policies and Procedures
The purpose of Spring Road Restrictions is to protect Manitoba's surfaced highways from damage during spring thaw conditions by reducing allowable weights. In consultation with those affected by these weight reductions, Manitoba Infrastructure and Transportation has revised its policies and procedures to reflect current transportation trends and to help improve trip planning.
This page provides general guidelines to Spring Road Restrictions. Please refer to The Highway Traffic Act and Spring Road Restriction Bulletins for details.
Restriction Levels
The Spring Road Restriction levels are based on percentage loading formulae that are simpler and easier to use. Two restriction levels provide higher truck loading where possible and protect pavements where necessary. Exceptions to these restrictions will be made only for steering axle weights and Essential Commodities as described below. A Maximum Allowable Weight Table is included in this page to show examples of allowable loading for each restriction level.
Single Axle and Axle Groups
Load restriction levels for all axle units, except steering axles in certain situations, are expressed as a percentage of normal loading for each highway class:
Level 1 Restrictions:
RTAC Routes, class A1 & B1 Highways: 90 % of normal axle loads
Level 2 Restrictions:
class A1 & B1 Highways: 65 % of normal axle loads
Please click the respective links for tire size allowable weight information:
- Level 1 RTAC Route 90%
- Level 1 class A1 90%
- Level 2 class A1 65%
- Level 1 class B1 90%
- Level 2 class B1 65%
Steering Axles
To address technological changes, such as set back steering axles, the allowable weights for steering axles are as follows:
Level 1 Restrictions:
Normal loading of 10 kg/mm of tire width to a maximum of 5,500 kg will be allowed.
Level 2 Restrictions:
- When transporting Essential Commodities, normal loading of 10 kg/mm of tire width to a maximum of 5,500 kg will be allowed, in accordance with Essential Commodities provisions. Trucks returning empty from these deliveries can do so any time. A list of Essential Commodities is provided for quick reference in the last section of this page.
- All other vehicles and commodities will be subject to the Level 2 restriction of 65% of normal loading for all axles including the steering axle.
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* Detailed maximum allowable weight tables are available above.
Essential Commodities
It is in the public interest that certain commodities and situations be accommodated even during the spring restriction period. These Essential Commodities have been separated into two groups, the Permit Exemptions List and the Permit Required List. The following provisions provide for limited travel on Level 2 restricted roads while carrying Level 1 weights.
Essential Commodities Provisions
The following provisions apply to loads of Essential Commodities, and to roads not designated as “65% of Normal Axle Loads, Exemptions by Permit Only.”
- Inter-city passenger buses, school buses and highway maintenance vehicles (operated by, or on behalf of, a traffic authority) may travel on Level 2 restricted highways at Level 1 restricted weights.
- Vehicles transporting Essential Commodities are permitted limited travel on Level 2 restricted highways at Level 1 restricted weights, under the following conditions:
- if the Level 2 restricted highway connects two points on the vehicle’s itinerary that are less than 10 kilometres apart, or if the highway is the most direct route between a point on the itinerary and the nearest highway not restricted to Level 2 and
- if the Essential Commodities are transported between midnight to 12:00 noon during the first 14 days of Spring Road Restrictions, or at any time of the day after the 14th day of Spring Road Restrictions.
Vehicles travelling empty – prior to picking up Essential Commodities or after having delivered them – may travel at any time of the day on Level 2 restricted highways while carrying Level 1 weights, as long as the trip complies with condition 2(a) above.
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"Exemptions by Permit Only" Routes
Exemptions by Permit Only signs will be posted under the standard 65% of Normal Axle Loads signs, on certain roads listed in the restriction order. These routes may be designated where there is more than one access road to a community or location. There will be no axle weights in excess of 65% of normal loading allowed, including Essential Commodities. In emergency situations, the department may issue permits.
Fixed Start & End Dates
Based on recent thaw patterns, an earlier start date will be used to reduce the significant amount of damage occurring at the beginning of spring thaw. A fixed start date has been set and is expected to be in effect most years.
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* The start date may be delayed in years of late thaw, based on the
thaw index. In this case, a later start date will be communicated to
industry, with 48-hours notice, through fax polling, the Internet and
the Road Information Line.
** Can be delayed up to May 31 when start date is delayed.
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How to Read the SRR Order
The SRR Order lists only roads that are restricted. At the beginning of the Order, the official start date is listed, which is March 18 of the applicable year. The interpretations section provides basic information as to what are Level 1 (90% of normal loading) and Level 2 (65% of normal loading) road restrictions, as well as defining the two climatic zones, and their start and end dates.
The lists of restricted roads are subdivided based on classes of highway. Section “A” details RTAC Routes and A1 highways restricted to Level 1 loading. Section “B” lists B1 highways subject to Level 1 restrictions. Section “C” details all highways subject to Level 2 restrictions.
The restricted highway is listed on the left of the page. The section(s) of the highway that is restricted is listed to the right. Please note that some highways may be partly RTAC, A1 and/or B1, and may be restricted to Level 1 and/or Level 2 weights. It is important to look for the highway in question in all three sections of the Order. A highway (or a section of a highway) not listed in any of the sections is allowed normal loading.
At the end of the Order, the Provisos that allow exceptions to the policy (such as essential commodities) are listed.
Notification of Affected Highways
Advertisements announcing that the Spring Road Restrictions Order is available and how to obtain it will be published in the Fall and in February prior to the restrictions start date in the following:
- Manitoba Cooperator
- La Liberte
- Winnipeg Free Press
- Winnipeg Sun
- Brandon Sun
- Community Newspapers
Fax Polling: All bulletins are available by fax polling the Compliance and Regulatory Services Branch at 1-204-945-6499
Web site: Bookmark this page and refer to it often for bulletins, updates, tire calculation charts, the SRR Map and more.
Road Information Line: Information will be available through a verbal description of road restrictions at 1-204-945-3704, or 1-877-MBRoads (1-877-627-6237).
Note: Please check regularly for changes throughout the restriction period. Delays to the start date will be communicated via fax polling, the Road Information Line and the Web Site.
For further information, please contact your local Manitoba
Infrastructure and Transportation Office OR Weigh Station,
or call:
Permit Services: 1-204-945-3961 or toll-free at 1-877-812-0009
Motor Carrier Enforcement: 1-204-945-3890
