REGINA, Sask. — Truck drivers should expect to be pulled over and weighed when travelling Saskatchewan highways during July and August, as the province conducts extensive weight surveys on its road network.

The Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure is conducting the survey to get a better handle on the types of weights and loads that are travelling its roads.

“The information being gathered by this survey is a necessary part of our continuing work to improve the province’s transportation network,” Highways and Infrastructure Minister Jim Reiter said. “The amount of heavy truck traffic on our highways has shot up almost 10% between 2007 and 2008 alone, with the growth of the provincial economy requiring more products to be shipped by road on their way to their final destination. We conduct annual surveys in different regions of the province every year to help assist with highway planning and design to best handle this industry-driven traffic.”

One-day survey sites will be set up at 15 sites across the province and every truck that passes by, including farm trucks, will be weighed. Drivers will be asked to provide information such as commodity, point of origin, destination and truck type.

The following is a list of survey dates: July 3, Hwy. 11 north of Regina; week of July 6, Hwy. 2 south of Moose Jaw, Hwy. 6 near Pangman and Hwy. 6 south of Raymore; week of July 13, Hwy. 13 west of Weyburn, Hwy. 47 north of Estevan, Hwy. 18 west of Oxbow, and Hwy. 39 northwest of Estevan; week of July 20, Hwy. 33 at Fillmore, Hwy. 9 near Langbank, Hwy. 1 est of Moosomin and Hwy. 10 south of Yorkton; and week of July 27, Hwy. 7 west of Kindersley, Hwy. 37 north of Shaunavon and Hwy. 1 near Beverley.

“Although heavy truck traffic does take its toll on provincial highways, it is a good indication that our export-driven economy is on a roll,” Reiter said. “This weight survey will help us determine where our transportation dollars are best spent.”