Saskatchewan Frost Laws, Seasonal Load Weight and Speed Restrictions – 2026

"Steering axle weight limited to 10.0 kg per mm tire width, maximum 5,500 kg for single steering axle. Other axles limited to 6.25 kg per mm tire width, maximum 1,650 kg per tire or 2,630 kg for wide single tires."

Spring Road Ban Axle Weight Limits

What Changed in Fifth Order 2026, Amendment 1

• This is the Fifth Order 2026, Amendment 1, effective on a staggered schedule: 12:01 AM April 3, 2026 for most routes and RMs, and 12:01 AM April 6, 2026 for RM 460 Birch Hills and additional provincial highways and access roads. It supersedes all prior 2026 spring road ban orders. Do not use earlier orders to determine current RM or route status.
• Removed from restrictions effective immediately upon order posting: RM No. 290 Kindersley.
• Removed from restrictions effective April 3, 2026: RM Nos. 183, 286, 404, and 429.
• New restrictions taking effect April 6, 2026: RM 460 Birch Hills and numerous additional provincial highways and access roads enter restriction effective 12:01 AM April 6, 2026.
• All other provincial highway and access road restrictions continue in force as carried forward from previous orders.
• Winter weight allowance program is not active under this order. Weight limits reflect spring road ban (reduced load) values only.
• A reference map is provided alongside the order document consult both for exact affected locations.

Scope and Coverage

Spring Road Ban Fifth Order 2026, Amendment 1 applies to designated provincial highways (specific segments enumerated in the order), designated access roads province-wide, and participating rural municipalities. Coverage is provincial highways and designated routes only local roads not specifically named in the order are not under provincial order scope.

• Provincial highways: Specific segments restricted on a staggered effective date schedule (April 3 and April 6, 2026); additional special-restriction routes carry extended-season or year-round 8,000 kg GVW caps. Consult the current order document for the full route list.
• Access roads: Named access roads province-wide subject to spring restrictions and/or year-round 8,000 kg limits as listed in the order document.
• Rural municipalities: Participating RMs subject to spring weight restrictions. RM lists change with each order always verify your specific RM against the current published order before dispatch. Four RMs removed effective April 3; RM 460 Birch Hills and others entering restriction effective April 6. For rural road restrictions not covered by the provincial order, contact the relevant RM directly.
• Year-round bridge restrictions: Multiple specific bridge structures restricted to secondary or primary weights year-round. Winter weight allowances are never permitted on these structures. Full bridge list is in the order document.
• Local roads: Not under provincial order scope. Contact the relevant Rural Municipality directly for local road restriction details.

Route-Specific Weight Conditions

• Hwy 8 Norquay section (temperature-triggered): Restricted to 8,000 kg GVW when ambient temperature is above −6°C. Window: March 15 – November 15, 2026. Restriction activates automatically at threshold temperature no separate ministerial order required.
• Hwy 35 Aylsham Access (temperature-triggered): Restricted to 8,000 kg GVW when ambient temperature is above −6°C. Window: February 24 – November 15, 2026. Activates automatically no separate order required.
• Hwy 240 (Prince Albert National Park access): Outside winter weight season restricted to 4.5 kg/mm tire width (maximum GVW 22,686 kg). During winter weight season winter secondary weights apply. This route is not eligible for full primary weights outside the winter season.
• Year-round 8,000 kg corridors: Specific named highways and access roads carry 8,000 kg GVW restrictions independent of the seasonal spring order. Refer to the order document for the complete list of affected routes.
• Selected bridges: Year-round secondary or primary weight restrictions; winter weight allowances are never permitted on these structures. Full bridge list in the order document.

RM Entry and Exit Schedule

• Removed from restrictions effective immediately upon order posting: RM No. 290 Kindersley.
• Removed from restrictions effective 12:01 AM April 3, 2026: RM Nos. 183, 286, 404, and 429.
• Restrictions take effect 12:01 AM April 6, 2026: RM 460 Birch Hills and numerous additional provincial highways and access roads. Consult the full order document for exact RM boundaries and route segment descriptions.
• RM lists change with every order. Do not rely on previous orders to determine current RM status. Always confirm the current active Minister's Order for your specific RM before dispatch.

Exemptions

• Emergency vehicles
• Recreational vehicles
• Buses (transit and highway)
• Farm equipment (operated or towed)
• Ministry of Highways vehicles and municipal maintenance equipment operating on restricted highways
• SaskPower, SaskEnergy, and SaskTel vehicles accessing operational sites along restricted routes
• Vehicles directly crossing a provincial highway at an intersecting public highway or private road (direct crossing only not travelling along the restricted highway)

How to Confirm Current Orders

• Call 5-1-1 (in Saskatchewan) or 1-866-933-5290 (toll-free) for live road condition updates.
• Email: [email protected] for detailed route and Rural Municipality information.
• Web: saskatchewan.ca Increased Weights and Road Restrictions
• Spring Road Ban orders are published every Tuesday and Friday by 12:30 p.m. CST during the ban period. Restrictions are progressively lifted as roads recover review the current order for your specific route and RM before every dispatch.
• RM lists change with every order. Do not rely on previous orders to determine current RM status.
• The Minister may restrict weights on any public highway at any time by Order, with as little as 48 hours' notice.
• Temperature-triggered restrictions on Hwy 8 (Norquay section) and Hwy 35 Aylsham Access activate automatically when ambient temperature rises above −6°C no separate ministerial order is required.
• Always download and review the current Minister's Order and reference map for your specific route before dispatch order documents are the authoritative source for active limits.
• For rural road restrictions not covered by the provincial order, contact the relevant Rural Municipality directly.

Key Order Document

• Spring Road Ban Fifth Order 2026, Amendment 1 (staggered effective dates: 12:01 AM April 3 and April 6, 2026)

Important Operational Notes

• This is the Fifth Order 2026, Amendment 1 it supersedes all previous 2026 spring road ban orders. RM lists have changed; do not use earlier orders for RM status.
• Winter weight allowance program is not active. Limits in this order reflect spring road ban (reduced load) values only.
• Weights on public highways are separate from a vehicle's registered gross weight.
• Spring weight restrictions do not permit exceeding maximums prescribed in The Vehicle Weight and Dimension Regulations, 2010.
• Order issued under The Highways and Transportation Act, 1997 by Saskatchewan Ministry of Highways.
• End date for the spring ban is not specified in the order; restrictions are lifted by subsequent ministerial order as road conditions recover.
• Not all provincial highways are affected by the spring order confirm your specific route against the current published order before dispatch.
• Local roads are not under provincial order scope. Contact the relevant Rural Municipality directly for local road restriction details.
• A reference map is provided alongside the order document consult both for exact affected locations.