Manitoba Road Map

Description:
This map shows cities, towns, highways, main roads, secondary roads, rivers, lakes, national parks, and provincial parks in Manitoba.

Manitoba maintains approximately 19,000 kilometers of provincial highways and roads, supplemented by extensive municipal road networks. The province's road system connects urban centers, agricultural regions, and remote northern communities, with infrastructure varying significantly between southern agricultural areas and the northern wilderness.

Provincial Highway System

Manitoba's provincial highways are designated with route numbers and maintained by Manitoba Infrastructure. The Trans-Canada Highway (Highway 1) traverses the province from the Saskatchewan border through Winnipeg to the Ontario border, covering approximately 490 kilometers. This route serves as the primary east-west transportation corridor and forms part of the national highway system.

Highway 75 provides the main connection between Winnipeg and the United States border at Emerson, facilitating significant commercial traffic. The Yellowhead Highway (Highway 16) runs through western Manitoba, while Highway 10 serves as a major north-south route. Provincial Trunk Highways (PTH) form the backbone of the regional road network, with numbers typically between 1 and 100.

Northern and Winter Roads

Northern Manitoba features limited year-round road access due to terrain and climate challenges. Several communities rely on winter roads constructed over frozen lakes, rivers, and muskeg during cold months. These seasonal routes typically operate from January to March when ice thickness reaches safe levels for vehicle traffic.

Highway 280 to Shamattawa and Highway 290 to Tadoule Lake represent examples of winter-only access routes. The province also maintains all-weather gravel roads to some northern communities, though these remain subject to seasonal closures. Road construction in permafrost regions requires specialized engineering techniques to prevent infrastructure degradation.

Maintenance and Infrastructure

Manitoba experiences extreme temperature variations, with winter lows below -40°C and summer highs above 30°C, creating significant maintenance challenges. Spring thaw periods often produce frost heaves and potholes requiring extensive repairs. The province implements seasonal weight restrictions on many roads during spring breakup to prevent structural damage. Urban areas generally feature paved roads, while rural and northern regions commonly utilize gravel surfaces due to cost considerations and maintenance requirements in harsh climate conditions.