"Effective 12:01 am, Monday May 18, 2026, spring road restrictions lift on designated provincial highways, access roads, and rural municipalities."
| Field | Detail |
|---|---|
| Status | Active Spring Road Ban (Seventeenth Order 2026) in effect. Effective 12:01 AM Monday May 18, 2026, spring restrictions lift on a large number of designated provincial highways, access roads, and rural municipalities. Year-round, temperature-triggered, and bridge-specific weight limits remain on specific routes and structures. Confirm the current active Minister's Order for your specific route before every dispatch. |
| Status Timestamp | 2026-05-15T00:00:00Z |
| Coverage | Provincial highways across Saskatchewan (state_only coverage). Designated provincial highway segments, access roads, and rural municipalities are covered under this order. Rural municipal roads are administered separately by individual rural municipalities contact the relevant RM directly for roads not named in the provincial order. |
| Effective Dates |
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| Weight Limits |
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| Key Roads | Spring restrictions lifted effective May 18, 2026 on designated routes including Hwys 3, 4, 9, 20, 24, 25, 26, 35, 55, 106, 123, 155, 167, 240, 255, 302, 355, 908, and 953 among others consult the Seventeenth Order document for the full named list. Ongoing special limits: Hwy 8 Norquay section (temperature-triggered 8,000 kg, March 15November 15, above −6°C); Hwy 35 Aylsham Access (temperature-triggered 8,000 kg, February 24November 15, above −6°C); Hwy 302 Cecil Ferry to municipal road (8,000 kg, March 1November 30); Hwy 240 (year-round 4.5 kg/mm, max 22,686 kg GVW); selected access roads and bridges province-wide (year-round 8,000 kg or secondary/primary weights). Consult the current order document for the full route, access road, and bridge list. |
| Exemptions |
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| Penalties | Not specified in the Seventeenth Order 2026. Spring road ban restrictions do not override maximum weights established under The Vehicle Weight and Dimension Regulations, 2010. |
| Contact | Phone: 1-866-933-5290 (toll-free SK) | 306-933-5290 (outside SK) | Dial 5-1-1 in Saskatchewan | Email: [email protected] | Web: saskatchewan.ca — Increased Weights and Road Restrictions |
| Primary Status Source URL | saskatchewan.ca — Increased Weights and Road Restrictions |
Spring Road Ban Axle Weight Limits
| Axle / Road Type | Limit | Basis / Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Single steering axle | 5,500 kg max | 10.0 kg per mm tire width — whichever is less |
| Tandem steering axle group | 11,000 kg max | 10.0 kg per mm tire width — maximum per group |
| Other axles — standard tires (<445 mm) | 1,650 kg per tire | 6.25 kg per mm tire width — per tire maximum |
| Other axles — wide-base single tires (≥445 mm) | 2,630 kg per tire | 6.25 kg per mm tire width — applies to single tires 445 mm width or greater |
| Hwy 8 — Norquay section (temperature-triggered) | 8,000 kg max GVW | March 15 to November 15 when ambient temperature exceeds −6°C. Activates automatically — no separate order required. |
| Hwy 35 — Aylsham Access (temperature-triggered) | 8,000 kg max GVW | February 24 to November 15 when ambient temperature exceeds −6°C. Activates automatically — no separate order required. |
| Hwy 302 — Cecil Ferry to municipal road | 8,000 kg max GVW | March 1 to November 30 annually |
| Selected access roads and highway segments — year-round | 8,000 kg max GVW | Year-round maximum regardless of seasonal order status; refer to order document for full list |
| Hwy 240 — special restriction (year-round) | 22,686 kg max GVW (50,000 lbs) | 4.5 kg per mm tire width — 75% of primary highway weights year-round; reverts to winter secondary weights during winter season |
| Selected bridge structures — year-round | Secondary or primary weights only | Year-round restriction; winter weight allowances explicitly prohibited; full bridge list in order document |
What Changed in Seventeenth Order 2026
- This is Ministerial Order 17 of 2026, signed May 15, 2026 and effective 12:01 AM Monday May 18, 2026 under The Highways and Transportation Act, 1997, s. 35(1). It supersedes all prior 2026 spring road ban orders including the Sixteenth Order. Do not use earlier orders to determine current highway or RM status.
- Effective 12:01 AM May 18, 2026, spring road restrictions lift on a large number of designated provincial highways, access roads, and rural municipalities — including Hwys 3, 4, 9, 20, 24, 25, 26, 35, 55, 106, 123, 155, 167, 240, 255, 302, 355, 908, and 953, among others. Consult the order document for the complete named list.
- Year-round 8,000 kg limits remain on numerous specified access roads and highway segments regardless of seasonal order status.
- Multiple bridge structures remain restricted to secondary or primary weights year-round — winter weight allowances are never permitted on those structures.
- Highway 240 remains under a year-round special restriction (4.5 kg/mm, max GVW 22,686 kg), representing 75% of primary highway weights, with reversion to winter secondary weights during the winter season.
- Temperature-triggered limits on Hwy 8 (Norquay section) and Hwy 35 Aylsham Access remain in effect during their respective seasonal windows — these activate automatically at the −6°C threshold with no separate ministerial order required.
- Authority derived from section 35(1) of The Highways and Transportation Act, 1997.
Scope and Coverage
- Provincial highways: Coverage is state_only. Effective May 18, 2026, spring restrictions lift on designated provincial highways, access roads, and rural municipalities named in the Seventeenth Order. Consult the order document for the full cleared and remaining-restricted route lists.
- Rural municipal roads: Not governed by this provincial order. Carriers must contact the applicable local rural municipality directly for restrictions on those roads.
- Year-round special-restriction highways: Highway 240 carries a year-round reduced weight formula (4.5 kg/mm, max 22,686 kg GVW — 75% of primary highway weights) independent of the seasonal spring ban cycle. During the winter season, winter secondary weights apply on Hwy 240.
- Temperature-triggered restrictions: Hwy 8 (Norquay section) restricted to 8,000 kg GVW when ambient temperature exceeds −6°C from March 15 to November 15. Hwy 35 Aylsham Access restricted to 8,000 kg GVW when ambient temperature exceeds −6°C from February 24 to November 15. Both activate automatically — no separate order required.
- Year-round bridge restrictions: Specified structures restricted to secondary or primary weights year-round. Winter weight allowances are never permitted on these structures. Full bridge list in the order document.
- Year-round access road and highway segment restrictions: Numerous specified access roads and highway segments carry a year-round 8,000 kg maximum GVW that is not affected by seasonal lifting orders.
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 to November 15. Activates automatically at threshold temperature — no separate ministerial order required. Check ambient temperature before dispatch on this route during the seasonal window.
- Hwy 35 — Aylsham Access (temperature-triggered): Restricted to 8,000 kg GVW when ambient temperature is above −6°C. Window: February 24 to November 15. Activates automatically at threshold temperature — no separate ministerial order required.
- Hwy 302 — Cecil Ferry to municipal road: Restricted to 8,000 kg GVW from March 1 to November 30 annually.
- Hwy 240 (year-round special restriction): Restricted to 4.5 kg/mm tire width, maximum GVW 22,686 kg (50,000 lbs) — 75% of primary highway weights. Year-round; not lifted by seasonal spring ban removal orders. During winter season, winter secondary weights apply.
- Selected access roads and highway segments: Year-round 8,000 kg maximum GVW — unaffected by seasonal lifting orders. Refer to the order document for the full list.
- Selected bridges province-wide: Year-round secondary or primary weight restrictions; winter weight allowances are never permitted on these structures. Full bridge list in the order document.
- General provincial highways named in the Seventeenth Order: Spring restrictions lift effective 12:01 AM May 18, 2026. Standard primary weights per The Vehicle Weight and Dimension Regulations, 2010 apply following the lift. For routes not listed in the order, standard provincial weights apply.
Exemptions
- Emergency vehicles
- Recreational vehicles
- Buses (transit)
- Farm equipment (operated or towed)
- Ministry of Highways vehicles and municipal maintenance equipment operating on restricted routes
- SaskPower, SaskEnergy, and SaskTel vehicles accessing service 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) or 306-933-5290 (outside SK) 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. Review the current order for your specific route before every dispatch.
- The Seventeenth Order supersedes all previous 2026 spring road ban orders including the Sixteenth Order. Do not use earlier orders for route status.
- Temperature-triggered restrictions on Hwy 8 (Norquay section, March 15–November 15) and Hwy 35 Aylsham Access (February 24–November 15) activate automatically when ambient temperature rises above −6°C — no separate ministerial order is required. Check temperature before dispatch on those routes during their seasonal windows.
- Year-round weight limits on Hwy 240 and year-round 8,000 kg limits on specified access roads and highway segments are not lifted by seasonal spring ban removal orders.
- Year-round bridge-specific secondary or primary weight restrictions are not lifted by seasonal spring ban removal orders — these remain in force year-round with winter weight allowances never permitted.
- For rural roads not covered by this provincial order, contact the applicable local rural municipality directly.
- Always download and review the current Minister's Order for your specific route before dispatch — order documents are the authoritative source for active limits.
Key Order Document
Important Operational Notes
- This is Ministerial Order 17 of 2026 — it supersedes all previous 2026 spring road ban orders including the Sixteenth Order. Do not use earlier orders for current status.
- Effective 12:01 AM May 18, 2026, spring restrictions lift on designated provincial highways, access roads, and rural municipalities named in the order. For routes not listed in the order, standard provincial weights under The Vehicle Weight and Dimension Regulations, 2010 apply.
- Temperature-triggered limits on Hwy 8 (Norquay section) and Hwy 35 Aylsham Access activate automatically — check ambient temperature against the −6°C threshold during the respective seasonal windows before dispatch on those routes.
- Residual restrictions on Hwy 240, Hwy 302 (Cecil Ferry), year-round access road and highway segment restrictions, and year-round bridge structures remain in effect regardless of any general spring ban removal.
- 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.
- Saskatchewan operates two distinct seasonal programs — (1) Winter Weight Allowances and (2) Spring Road Bans. This order covers the spring restriction program. Carriers seeking winter weight allowance details should consult the Saskatchewan Ministry of Highways directly or monitor the source URL for updated orders.
- Rural municipal roads are not governed by this provincial order — contact the applicable local rural municipality directly for restrictions on those roads.
Source Attribution
Primary Source: Saskatchewan.ca — Increased Weights and Road Restrictions
Supporting Source: Spring Road Ban Seventeenth Order 2026 (signed May 15, 2026; effective 12:01 AM Monday May 18, 2026)
Status Observed: 2026-05-15T00:00:00Z | Source Retrieved: 2026-05-15T18:07:02+00:00
Publisher: Saskatchewan Ministry of Highways
Spring Road Ban (Seventeenth Order 2026) is active. Effective 12:01 AM May 18, 2026, spring restrictions lift on designated provincial highways, access roads, and rural municipalities. Year-round, temperature-triggered, and bridge-specific weight limits remain on specific routes and structures. Always confirm the current active Minister's Order for your specific route before dispatch.
