FREDERICTON — Spring weight restrictions on New Brunswick highways are slated to kick in March 11 at midnight in southern New Brunswick and March 18 in the northern part of the province.

The restrictions will continue until May 20 in southern N.B. and May 27 in the north.

The government says these dates are dependent on weather conditions and are subject to change.

Weight restrictions for trucks are imposed each year in an effort to protect the highway infrastructure from damage during the spring thaw.

Should weather conditions warrant, district engineers are authorized to close roads to trucks or to impose weight restrictions on highways or portions of highways at any time.

Southern N.B. is described as all the area lying within the Counties of Kent, Westmorland, Albert, Saint John, Kings, Queens, Sunbury, Charlotte, Carleton and York County, except that portion of Route 108 within York County, and that portion of Gordon Vale Road and Holtville Road within York County, and that portion of Bloomfield Ridge Road between Holtville Road and Route 625, and that portion of Route 625 between Gordon Vale Road and Route 8.

Northern New Brunswick falls within the Counties of Northumberland, Gloucester, Restigouche, Madawaska, Victoria and that portion of Route 108 within York County, and that portion of Gordon Vale Road and Holtville Road within York County, and that portion of Bloomfield Ridge Road between Holtville Road and Route 625, and that portion of Route 625 between Gordon Vale Road and Route 8.

Highways exempt from spring weight restrictions and on which axle weights, as specified in the Motor Vehicle Act Chapter M will be permitted, can be viewed at www.gnb.ca/0113/index-e.asp.