(Resource News International) — Spring road restrictions in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba are in the process of being implemented and are expected to limit farmers’ ability to move grain for the next couple of months, according to industry officials.
Spring weight restrictions have already been implemented on certain rural roads in Alberta. An official with Alberta’s transportation department said the restrictions will likely be kept in place until the end of May or June, to be lifted depending on how soon the frost is out of the ground.
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Depending on the highway, there are different restrictions, the official said. The limitations to be implemented range from 75 per cent of legal weight to 90 per cent.
Meanwhile, Saskatchewan Highways and Transportation has issued an advisory to all truckers, farmers and drivers carrying heavy loads warning that spring road bans have been implemented in select areas of the province.
Typically, restrictions are implemented first in the southwest of the province and progress in a northeasterly manner across the province, the official said. Road restrictions may be in place for up to six weeks from the date of implementation.
The official said the restrictions apply to secondary weight highways only.
The road restrictions will likely be in place until May, but the limitation in the southern regions would probably be lifted first and then gradually northwards.
Spring road restrictions in the lower half of Manitoba will be implemented March 18, while northern regions will be included
on March 25, information from Manitoba’s Highways and Transportation said.
However, some commodities in Manitoba will not require a permit when transported. Those commodities include livestock feed for producers, feed hay being shipped intraprovincially, livestock being shipped to market, drinking water, bulk milk, seed (between suppliers), fuel and fertilizer.
Commodities that will require a permit from Manitoba Highways and Transportation during the implementation of spring road bans include grain to satisfy grain quotas or contracts, as well as potatoes or vegetables moving from producer to processor.
Depending on the class of highway and the restriction zone the limitations in Manitoba generally range from 65 to 90 per cent of legal weight.
The restrictions in the lower half of Manitoba were tentatively set to be removed May 26 while in the northern regions removal was anticipated on May 31.
