Winter roads play an important role in servicing remote communities with no all-weather road access within the territories and northern regions of Canadian provinces. The development of resource projects in northern Canada relies heavily on winter roads.

The main objective of these guidelines is to provide recommendations for design, construction and operation of winter roads. These guidelines were developed based on information and experience gathered by experts in the field of winter road planning, construction and operation.

Building an all-season road network over long distances would prevent or delay exploration efforts due to high costs. Winter roads provide an excellent, cost effective means for moving equipment and goods in and out of a remote location. Drilling activities, for example, can be completed within a few months while the ground is frozen and water bodies are covered with an adequate ice sheet to support the operation.

The information in this document is intended for technically trained personnel in leading management positions and transportation departments who will develop their own specific guidelines as well as a general reference guide for other organizations to develop their specific documents for planning, building and operating winter roads.

Disponible en français : Lignes directrices relatives à la construction et à l'exploitation des routes d'hiver