With a major storm forecasted, Manitoba Infrastructure and Transportation advises motorists to be alert for snow-clearing equipment on highways and provincial roads. Whenever weather events that affect the provincial highway system occur, crews are deployed as needed, regardless of the time or day.
Motorists are reminded:
• all maintenance equipment use flashing, blue warning lights;
• stay well back of all equipment;
• always remain alert when following or approaching oncoming plows;
• do not attempt to pass a plow in operation from behind at any time; and
• slow down when passing approaching snowplows in operation.
The Manitoba government is responsible for maintaining the 19,000-kilometre provincial highway system that provides safe and timely travel during the winter season. However, highway travel is dependent on weather conditions.
Manitoba Infrastructure and Transportation has a winter operations budget of more than $33 million and annual snow-clearing and removal costs of more than $14 million. There are approximately 300 staff working out of more than 60 maintenance yards across the province and each yard has designated highways to maintain. The winter maintenance system includes a fleet of 305 truck plows, sanders and graders.
The province has also invested more than $10 million in new equipment in each of the last three years to update and improve the snowplowing fleet.
The latest information on road conditions is available any time at 511 (toll-free), at www.mb511.ca or by following the Twitter account @MBGovRoads.
