Discussions

Looking the 511 site, says that roads are partly covered  
Guess they can’t see them to change them

511 is a dangerous and misleading source of info. They are so infrequently updated. It's embarrassing how infrequently they update things. So many provinces road maps are leaps and bounds above ours including snow removal. Mb seems to wait till roads are completely impassable before they think of doing anything. In alberta you can monitor the snowplow location and which direction they are travelling live on map. They also aren't afraid to send plows out during evening and night hours. Wish the government would put more money into making highways safer for all.  
 
Edited by Golden2014, 2023-03-11 14:42:51

Most of us are grateful for the highway workers Highways cannot be updated unless trucks are out there driving in the blizzard.  
Travel is not recommended why should the snowploughs be out there, they have family too surely everyone can stay put through a blizzard for one day. Whatever you see out your door is worse on the open highway with the wind.  
Personally I do not shovel my sidewalk, deck or use snowblower on driveway until storm passes.  
Everyone was warned of blizzard for days , stay home.  
 
People want the MB government to put more money into everything but not raise taxes.  
As for overnight clearing I can’t imagine the number of complaints that would come in on this forum. Good grief someone cleans a driveway before 7 it’s criticized and complaints filed can’t imagine if that’s a big old snow plow

Just curious , how we will know if the transcanada hwy closed? I have been watching Manitoba 511 too and seeing the same thing - that it’s yellow and partially snow covered. Can’t see past two block away in Brandon I can’t imagine the highways being travel worthy. Have a family member coming home via shuttle later And want to know how to monitor the hwy conditions real time  
 
Edited by Besca , 2023-03-11 15:20:51

One way to have a more current report on Manitoba highway conditions is to use the highway camera view option. Although you only get to see the particular intersection or stretch of highway, it is close to real time, with most being updated every 10 minutes. You also see the snowfall, wind, and general visibility in each camera view.

On 511 it shows last updated time. Just click on section of highway you want and it is time stamped.  
 
Chances are the highway will most likely close when it gets dark if the winds keep up.  
 
Edited by Mac72, 2023-03-11 15:44:01

Thanks, time stamp helps!

Couldn’t have said it better myself

If the cameras works, that can be an option. I know the one at Highway 10 and the junction of Highway 60 or example been down for atleast 8 months!  
 
Why can't MB511 be more like and even North Dakota and just be a lot more up to date? Even they put a travel not recommended Long ago. Common sense of just stay home on a day like today doesn't work.  
 
Edited by alight, 2023-03-11 16:57:04

isn't always reliable. That's where eBrandon and many other resources come in. The one I use and help moderate is the Canadian Highways Network. Here is a link to the Manitoba Facebook group:  
 
https://www.facebook.com/groups/manitobacanadianhighwaysnetwork  
 
I hope this helps. Drivers helping drivers instead of what a screen thinks you should see. Although 511 does come in handy sometimes, it's far from a permanent reliable solution.

Every private lot in town is cleared before the city and highways department thinks about doing anything. If you have ever driven in other provinces you would know the snow removal is substandard.  
 
Last winter the highways department ran out of sand/salt in the middle of the winter. Hwy 1 remained closed for an extended period of time. Instead of purchasing salt and sand that other rm's and towns use that did not meet the exact specifications of the highways department , they purchased nothing and left the road closed. Any sand would have been better than no sand.  
 
In some other areas of the province last year they tendered out snow removal work in November, looking for contractors to do snow the same winter!

The highways are probably decent with the amount of wind blowing the highway is most likely partly snow covered. IT’s the visibility that’s the shits.