Manitoba’s winter road system will be fully open this week, with the exception of the Tadoule Lake road, giving access to remote and northern communities’ for delivery of essential goods and inter-community travel.

“Each year Manitoba Infrastructure commits to delivering winter road passages as soon as weather conditions permit,” said Infrastructure Minister Ron Schuler. “Due to warmer temperatures in December and January, construction fell behind the seasonal schedule. However, we will not compromise the safety of the road system or of the people constructing it. After many efforts, we are pleased to announce the system will be completed this week and communities will have full passage to the network.”

The typical winter road season runs from mid-January to mid-March, depending on weather conditions. The winter road system is over 2,381 kilometres long and serves over 30,000 Manitobans in 22 communities. Each year, more than 2,500 shipments of goods arrive by truck to Manitoba’s northern remote communities.

“Our government also wants to thank all the hard-working men and women in the trucking industry,” noted Schuler. “They are essential workers, delivering essential goods to our communities in Manitoba and across North America under tremendously challenging conditions. Last season, over 118 transport companies obtained permits for winter road freight hauling and were successful in providing our northern communities with essential items.”

Road users are encouraged to follow current COVID-19 public health orders and to contact individual communities for possible entry requirements prior to travelling.

For a complete list of Manitoba’s winter road system, visit gov.mb.ca.