FREDERICTON, N.B. (Feb. 18) — The unseasonably warm weather that has cause frost to seep through road surfaces in Nova Scotia hasn’t stopped at the border. Transport officials throughout the Atlantic region and Quebec are facing the possibility is enforcing spring weight restrictions weeks ahead of normal.

The current schedule, province by province:

> Nova Scotia: Restrictions typically don’t come into effect until mid-March; however, they could be in place as early as next week, transport officials said. For information, contact Geoff Wilson at the Dept. of Transportation and Public Works, 902/424-8687.

> Newfoundland: Restrictions are posted and applied to secondary roads at the discretion of the district highway manager. For more information relating to these, contact the Motor Registration Division at 709/729-6069. No spring weight restrictions apply on the Trans Canada Highway.

> Quebec: The first road closures are scheduled from March 15 to May 12 in Zone 1 (Southern Quebec); from March 21 to May 19 in Zone 2 (Central Quebec); and from March 24 to May 25 in Zone 3 (Northern Quebec). Vehicles traveling via the Trans Canada Highway from the Atlantic Region to Montreal, or points west, must travel through Zone 1 and are subject to the weight limits for that zone. For more information, phone 418/643-6864.

Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick have not yet announced the effective dates for their spring weight restrictions, although the New Brunswick Dept. of Transportation has already issued truck restrictions for several secondary highways due to warm weather. Among them: the Post Road near Fredericton Junction; the gravel portion of the Peltoma Settlement Road near Tracy; Route 645, Cork Road; and Route 116, Salmon River Road.

Source: Atlantic Provinces Transportation Commission