REGINA — With groundhogs predicting an early spring and with warmer temperatures in the province this week, the provincial government is reminding people who are heading out on the ice and winter roads to check on the latest conditions before they go.
In a news release Friday right before the three-day long weekend, the Ministry of Highways had an update on some of those temporary roads that are usually built over lakes that are frozen during the winter months.
Normally, the province states that construction of ice and seasonal roads begins in January, with those routes opening in February and closing by late March, with timelines varying due to weather conditions.
With milder weather conditions as of late, there are some restrictions and closures being reported as of Feb. 13:
- The 90 km Fond du Lac to Uranium City route remains closed as of Feb. 12.
- The 85 km Stony Rapids to Fond du Lac route, which includes an overland portion, has opened to light loads as of Jan. 29.
- The 52 km Cumberland House route to the Saskatchewan-Manitoba border opened Jan. 16 to light loads.
- The Riverhurst ice road, approximately two kilometres long, remains closed as of Feb. 12.
- Finally, the Wollaston Lake ice road, approximately 50 km long, will not open this season; instead a temporary private overland road is being used to access the community.
In a statement Highways Minister Kim Gartner urged motorists to check Highway Hotline for the latest on road conditions and on allowable weights for provincial ice and winter roads.
"The Highway Hotline is an important tool to check before heading out," Gartner said in a statement. "These temporary roads provide important transportation links, which is key for remote northern communities, businesses and industries."
