Road bans have come into effect for the RM of Estevan effective 8:00 am this morning.

"The frost comes out of the ground this time of year," Reeve Terry Keating, explained, "and then the roads get soft and if you don't put the ban on, you're going to destroy your roads. Once the frost is out and it dries up a bit then they go off."

Weather can change and that will affect the restrictions as well. 

"We have our official spring restriction orders that are posted every Tuesday and Friday," shared Steve Shaheen with the Ministry of Highways, "with the exception on Good Friday. And this order will come into effect in the following Thursday at midnight or the following Sunday at midnight so these things can change within 48 hours. For example, a prolonged cold weather occurs then the restriction would be removed until weather conditions warrant it."

Keating went on to add that the weight restriction is 12,000 lbs (gross vehicle weight) so anything 12,000 lbs or under is allowed.

He did note that if you are an over-weight vehicle and need to move, there are ways to accommodate that. 

"The problem with roads bans is that it restricts a lot of businesses and they have to work too. So they can get permits. They can phone the RM Office and get a permit. In that way, at least the RM can tell them which road they would prefer them to use if they do get a permit."

"We don't want to harm anybody but it's something that we have to do annually every spring."

A list of the roads currently not under restrictions can be found here.

Vehicles that are found to be overweight travelling while the restrictions are on can be subject to a fine. Those fines are calculated by how much weight the vehicle is over.