A mild winter and less than average snowfall is helping the R.M. of Portage la Prairie enter the spring with a potential surplus of road gravel.

Currently, the R.M. has about 93,000 tonnes set aside for its disposal.   Deputy Reeve Garth Asham says the roads are in great condition because the light snow fall amounts allowed for less road grading being required and thus less gravel being pushed off the roads and into the ditches.

The R.M. only needed a minimal amount during the winter months.  Asham says they now have a large amount of gravel set aside and ready should it be needed. He says the R.M. is hopeful it will be able t remain economically responsible with their gravel useage throughout the rest of 2012.