MORRIS, Man. — Predictions from a few weeks ago that flooding along the Red River would be kinder to Manitoba truckers than last year have so far been proven correct.

According to local reports, the province’s main route to the U.S. will likely stay open all spring.

About an hour south of Winnipeg, the Town of Morris is one of the most vulnerable points along Highway 75 for flooding. Last spring, the highway was closed for more than a month due to flooding and the Manitoba Trucking Association estimated the closure cost the industry $250,000 a day.

Things are looking a little rosier this spring however.

Steve Topping, a senior Water Stewardship Department official, said he’s "fairly confident" the main artery south to the U.S. border will remain open. The Red River crested at Morris on Monday, and so far efforts to shore up the road north of the town have been successful.

Traffic there is down to one lane in each direction for about 50 metres. The province is basing its prediction that a road closure can be avoided in part on a favourable weather forecast.