Fort Simpson (Mar 20/06) - Maintenance on winter roads in the Sahtu region is coming to an end this month.

Servicing to the Mackenzie Valley winter road between Wrigley and Colville Lake will end at midnight on March 22, and maintenance on the winter access roads for Deline, Trout Lake and Nahanni Butte ended at midnight on March 15.

"At this time of year we're not necessarily running out of money, but we really only budget to mid-March," said Daniel Auger, assistant deputy minister of transportation.

These roads close in March most years, said Auger, but it varies because there is an agreement between the GWNT and oil and gas companies.

"There is a decreased amount of oil and gas activity right now compared to previous years," Auger said.

"But there is an agreement with oil and gas companies."

Auger said oil and gas companies typically look for early road openings in the fall, or extensions to road maintenance in the spring.

"And a greater road capacity as well," Auger added.

Road crews are able to increase the capacity of ice roads by adding extra flooding (extra water) to lake crossings.

For the portage portion of the road, crews spread out more water instead of compact snow.

Auger says the main challenge in ice road maintenance has been the increased activity in the area combined with warmer climates.

"There's more traffic and larger trucks and this causes greater damage to the road," Auger said.

Bob Kelly, transportation spokesperson, says there has been an "identifiable trend in shorter operating seasons because of warmer weather."

The department has been building bridges along the roads in response. Over 20 bridges have been erected along the Mackenzie Valley winter road so far.