Road restrictions slow down subdivision construction

But municipalities insist rules protect roads from damage

Spring road restrictions against heavy vehicles in rural subdivisions have left home-builders angry and frustrated.

The Rural Municipality of Macdonald imposed the restrictions March 18. They will last until the Victoria Day long weekend.

“Essentially, they’re shutting us right down,” said Gerry Martel, vice-president of Paradigm Custom Homes Inc.

The restrictions limit the weight of vehicles that can travel on unfinished roads in subdivisions under construction.

Most municipalities impose similar restrictions, but often make exceptions for vehicles they deem necessary, said Martel, who has lived in the R.M. of Macdonald since he was nine.

“They are the most difficult R.M. you could ever work with,” he said

Paradigm is building homes in the PrairieView subdivision, but the road restrictions will make it difficult for builders to meet promised possession dates.

Macdonald said there’s a chance his company could lose a deal because customers have been told their homes would be ready by a certain date.

“Now we have to call people and say it’s next to impossible,” he said.

Tom Scoular, land development manager for Ventura Land Development Co., said most builders are aware of the restrictions and try to get as much work in as they can before the restrictions come into play.

Scoular, along with Martel, requested an extension at the March 11 meeting of the R.M Council. Council conceded and gave them an extra week, changing the effective date of the restrictions to March 25.

Builders used that time to finish as much heavy work as possible, such as laying foundations and basements.

“I wish we lived in a place where you don’t need (the restrictions),” said Scoular.

But he admits that they are necessary.

Manitoba winters come with a deeper frost that makes many unfinished roads more susceptible to damage than major highways. Subdivision roads, for example, consist of only a thin layer of asphalt until construction is complete.

Scoular worked in land development in Headingley for 13 years before moving to Venture. He said people choose to live in rural areas partly because they don’t want to pay high taxes.

He said if restrictions were not in place and roads were continually damaged, it would be up to residents and the R.M. to pay for the repairs.

“It’s not up to the taxpayers that live there to pay a nice healthy tab because someone doesn’t want to follow the law.”

Doug Dobrowolski, deputy reeve of the R.M. of Macdonald, said council is looking out for the best interests of the municipality.

“We’re trying to protect our infrastructure,” he said. “We want to prolong our roads for as long as we can.”