Truck drivers and other heavy haulers will want to mark their calendars, cause the winter weights on secondary highways are fast approaching lifting.
March 14th is the official deadline for the removal of the winter weights, meaning that secondary highways will no longer be rated for the same weights as primary highways, like the Trans-Canada Highway.
David Horth, director of communications for the Saskatchewan Ministry of Highways, that the monitoring of the highways is ongoing, and that the deadline date may come sooner, or later than expected.
"We publish an order on our website twice weekly which is where the trucking industry goes for information about about winter weights," said Horth. "It's purely based on the condition of the roadbed."
During the winter months, the freezing conditions toughen up the road structure so that it can handle more weight than when it softens up during the summer. This enables secondary highways to endure the full load of a primary weight limit.
"It's an economic benefit to producers and people who ship commodities," said Horth.
Failure to comply with the reduced weight limits after the winter weights are lifted can result in hefty fines, which vary on a case-by-case basis.