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Winter roads shutting down

The province says its entire system of winter roads will close tonight at midnight due to warm weather and deteriorating ice conditions.

Infrastructure and Transportation Minister urged the federal government this afternoon to cover the cost of shipping goods by air due to the early closure of the road system

"The winter road system is a vital link to deliver key supplies such as food and fuel to northern communities, and this year that link is closing sooner than expected due to the warm weather," Ashton said in a release.

About half the winter road system opened by Feb. 1, while the remainder opened Feb. 12. Normally, the system is open for about eight weeks.

The system serves more than 30,000 Manitobans in more than 20 communities that have no permanent roads. About 2,500 shipments of staple items such as fuel, groceries, construction materials and general freight are transported each year by commercial trucks from the south on this system.

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