Winter Road Safety Procedures
General Public
Updated December 2020
Use of the Winter Road System prior to an official opening or during a closure is not approved as there is no inspection or maintenance provided. The road surface can deteriorate rapidly as it is subject to changes in weather. There are also unexpected delays that may occur in this remote, isolated area. Please be prepared for extended trips.
When using the Winter Road System there is always the possibility of being stranded. Unless you are absolutely sure of your location remain with your vehicle, make a camp nearby and start a fire. This will be your first step in preventing hypothermia, which is the exposure to cool air or water. Wet or damp clothing, wind and exhaustion accelerate this condition. Avoid overexertion. The following are suggestions of supplies that should accompany every vehicle on the Winter Road System.
Clothing
- Winter Boots, Pants & Socks
- Parka or Snowmobile Suit
- Two Piece Underwear
- Mitts, Toque or Cap
Food
- Chocolate or Granola Bars
- Freeze Dried Food
- Nuts and Raisins
- Sugar and Salt
- Tea Bags, Soup, Hot Chocolate
- K Rations
- Hot Pac Meals
- Water Purification Tablets
Fuel
Carry enough fuel to reach your final destination, as there are no service stops provided.
Survival Equipment
- Blankets, Pillow, Sleeping Bag
- First Aid Kit, Map
- Flashlight, Flares
- Cutlery, Multitool with Knife
- Hatchet, Axe, Saw, Rope ,Wire
- Mirror, Newspaper, Watch
- Matches (Water Proof)
- Small Metal Can, Plastic Jug
- Sun Glasses, Survival Booklet
- Toilet Paper, Paper Towels
Vehicle Equipment
- Extra Belts, Fuel Filter
- Booster Cables, Ice Scraper, Brush
- Methyl Hydrate, Anti-Freeze
- Shovel, Extension Cord
- Snow Tires, Jack, Satellite Phone
- Tools, Come-along, Fire Extinguisher
- Tow chain or Nylon Rope
- Candles, Supplementary Heat Source
Winter Road Information
- Winter Road Inspectors provide regular coverage weather and road conditions permitting.
- Inspectors use red reflectors to mark hazardous curves, hills and bumps.
- Due to the slippery road conditions the stopping ability of all vehicles is greatly reduced.
- The road alignment follows the natural terrain of the land. Please drive with caution.
- Drive close to the centre of all ice roads, not by the snow storage banks.
- Use channel 1 on your C.B. radios. Satellite phone communication is recommended.
- Route maps, safety information and road conditions are available on the website at https://www.manitoba511.ca/en/
- Please call Highway Information Services at 204-945-3704 or Toll Free 1-877-627-6237 for a recorded announcement of Winter Road conditions.
Transfer Companies (for all vehicles with a G.V.W. of 7 tonnes or greater)
- Do not park your semi-trailers, loaded or unloaded on the ice as it encourages others to do the same and the constant weight could create an ice failure.
- The recommended ice road speed limit of 15 km/hr must be strictly followed. Exceeding the speed limit causes ice pop-outs, cracking, wave action and complete ice failures.
- Stagger your loads, approximately one kilometer apart when travelling across an ice road.
