You may be surprised to find out that Saskatchewan has stricter rules when it comes to closing highways, compared to our neighbouring provinces.

Paul Spasoff with the Ministry of Highways explained that two conditions must be met in order for our province to close a highway.

These conditions include:

  • zero visibility
  • snow blocked highways
  • large snow drifts
  • ice covered roads
  • traffic accidents

"We may close a highway when certain conditions are met and we do this in the interest in public safety," he said.

You still might be wondering why Manitoba closed a number of its highways on Tuesday well before Saskatchewan did.

As Spasoff explained, the Saskatchewan government has an added feature on its Highway Hotline which Manitoba doesn't - travel not recommended.

"Where they may go to a closure earlier, we do have that travel not recommended and again, that's when we really ask people to obey those because there's a good reason for that," he said.

When it comes to people travelling on highways which are closed, or not recommended for travel, Spasoff said it is their decision.

"We can't physically prevent people from travelling on closed highways if they chose to, but they do so at their own risk," he said.

So, Spasoff warned, if someone gets stuck or stranded on a closed highway, they are taking that upon themselves.