Legislative Electronic Publications -- Most Winter Roads Now Open to Northern and Remote Manitoba Comunities

Manitoba Government News Release:
Information Services, Room 29, Legislative Building, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3C 0V8 Telephone: (204)
945-3746 Fax: (204) 945-3988

February 17, 2006

MOST WINTER ROADS NOW OPEN TO NORTHERN AND REMOTE MANITOBA COMUNITIES

The majority of Manitoba’s 2,200-kilometre winter road system serving northern and remote communities is now open to commercial traffic, Transportation and Government Services Minister Ron Lemieux announced today.

“We are delighted the weather has now allowed most of the winter road system to open and vital supplies are moving into northern communities,” said Lemieux. “There are still a couple of sections behind schedule due to the warm weather, but we are hoping this current cold trend will help complete the roads and get freight moving.”

Some sections of the winter road system are open under load restrictions:

the Lake Winnipeg Crossing from Pine Dock to Bloodvein and Poplar River (26 t),
the Rice River Road from Manigotagan to Bloodvein (35 t),
the access roads to Berens River and Poplar River (35 t),
the access road to York Landing (28 t),
PR 373 to Thicket Portage (17 t),
PR 373 to Pikwitonei (17 t), and
the access ice road to Gods Lake Narrows First Nation (25 t).

Norway House Winter Road

Access is open to full loading to Oxford House, Gods River and the Gods Lake Narrows community.
Access is open to reduced loading to Gods Lake Narrows First Nation (26 t).
Within a week’s time, access to Red Sucker Lake, Garden Hill, Wasagamack and St. Theresa Point will be open to reduced loading (weight yet to be determined).

Eastside of Lake Winnipeg Winter Road

Access is open to reduced loading from the Pine Dock Crossing to Bloodvein (26 t), from Manigotagan to Bloodvein (35 t) and into the Communities of Berens River and Poplar River (35 t).
Within two weeks’ time, access to Little Grand Rapids, Red Sucker Lake, Garden Hill, Wasagamack and St. Theresa Point will be open to reduced loading (weight yet to be determined).

Roads into the communities of Pauingassi, Pukatawagan and Granville Lake have significant difficulties and are not expected to open until some time in late March.

The main delay for the winter roads has been the lack of sustained cold weather, hindering ice formation on lakes and streams and preventing the bog areas from freezing sufficiently, which prevents heavier equipment from getting onto these areas. Provincial standards require the ice thickness to be a minimum of 35 inches (87 cm) for full loads (37,500 kg) to travel on the ice.

For information on road conditions east of Lake Winnipeg, call 204-785-5333 (24 hours). For conditions north, northeast and northwest of Lake Winnipeg, call 204‑677-6513 (7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) or 1-888-855-4807 (after hours). The information is also available on line at http://www.gov.mb.ca/roadinfo or at 1-877-MBRoads (1‑877‑627‑6237).

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MANITOBA WINTER ROAD SYSTEM

The seasonal road system serves approximately 38,000 Manitobans not served by permanent roads in 28 communities and has a total length of approximately 2,200 kilometres.
The winter road system, the majority of which is jointly funded with the federal government, is managed and monitored by the province.
The typical winter road season runs eight to 10 weeks ending in March.
Including federal government contributions, the winter road budget for 2005-06 is $9.6 million.
The construction and maintenance work is generally contracted out to the communities involved, creating local employment opportunities.
Approximately 2,000 shipments, primarily fuel, construction materials and general freight, are hauled by truck over the winter routes.
More than $130 million has been spent on northern transportation infrastructure. An average of 25 per cent of the highways capital budget has been allocated to the north for five consecutive budgets.
Provincial spending has more than doubled on winter roads since 1999, from approximately $1.8 million in 1998-99 to $4.7 million in 2004-05.
Significant progress has been made on relocating winter roads from ice crossings to land for safety and sustainability.

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