The winter weight season ended last week in southern Saskatchewan.

Steve Shaheen with the Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure says that usually the ministry lifts the restrictions earlier in the year.

"Typically the winter weight period would run from December 1 to late February in the southwest," he said. "We've had colder weather throughout January and February which pushed the date back a little bit."

Winter weight season allows more weight on highways by truckers an shippers.

"Colder temperatures during the winter months help freeze and strengthen the roads," he said. "As a result, more weight can be transported on provincial highways without any damage to the road."

As the winter weight season ends, Shaheen says that the spring road bans will soon be in effect.

"We would anticipate the spring road bans to take effect in the next couple of weeks," he said. "They are weather dependent. Typically these would be in effect in early March in the southwest and remain there over a two-to-three-week period."

The spring road bans are put in place to prevent damage to the surfaces of the roads from heavy weight.

The winter weight season hasn't ended everywhere in the province as in the central and northern parts of the province the winter weight season has been extended due to the cold weather they're still experiencing.

Shaheen noted that the Highway Hotline has all the information in a virtual map to show people where the weight restrictions are and are coming off.