Winter road: Difference between revisions
fix double redirects and separate from Ice road which article states "Ice roads are different from winter roads in that they are intentionally built primarily across frozen waterways." |
current usage includes many lighter vehicles that can operate at higher speed |
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Winter roads are extensively used in the [[Canadian Oil Patch|oil patch]] for drilling in remote locations in [[Alberta]] and [[British Columbia]] during the winter, and for access to remote communities, including [[Indian reserve]]s, in the northernmost parts of many Canadian provinces. |
Winter roads are extensively used in the [[Canadian Oil Patch|oil patch]] for drilling in remote locations in [[Alberta]] and [[British Columbia]] during the winter, and for access to remote communities, including [[Indian reserve]]s, in the northernmost parts of many Canadian provinces. |
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Depending on the region, winter roads last anywhere from a few weeks to several months before they become impassable. The roads |
Depending on the region, winter roads last anywhere from a few weeks to several months before they become impassable. The roads were originally very rough and often designed only for tracked vehicles hauling cargo sleds. Today most see large numbers of of large [[truck]]s, as well as lighter vehicles. Recommended travel speeds on winter roads are very low (approximately 15 km/h for semi-trailers) due to their rough condition and the potential for damage to portions over ice. Lighter vehicles are not subject to the same constraints and users can often average 60 km/h when the roads are in top condition. |
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== See also == |
== See also == |
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Revision as of 19:46, 9 February 2009
Winter roads are temporary highways carved out of snow and ice. They facilitate transportation to and from communities without permanent roads, and are commonly seen in isolated regions in Canada's north.
Winter roads have a crucial role in enabling goods to be brought into communities without permanent road access. In many of these communities, air transportation is used at other times of the year to bring in goods including food and supplies, but this can be prohibitively costly for bulky goods such as building supplies and heavy equipment.
In general, these roads are built in areas where construction of year-round roads is expensive due to many river crossings, and the presence of boggy muskeg land. When frozen in winter, these obstacles are easier to cross. These frozen highways are more economical than a full highway, and have less impact on the environment.
Winter roads are extensively used in the oil patch for drilling in remote locations in Alberta and British Columbia during the winter, and for access to remote communities, including Indian reserves, in the northernmost parts of many Canadian provinces.
Depending on the region, winter roads last anywhere from a few weeks to several months before they become impassable. The roads were originally very rough and often designed only for tracked vehicles hauling cargo sleds. Today most see large numbers of of large trucks, as well as lighter vehicles. Recommended travel speeds on winter roads are very low (approximately 15 km/h for semi-trailers) due to their rough condition and the potential for damage to portions over ice. Lighter vehicles are not subject to the same constraints and users can often average 60 km/h when the roads are in top condition.