Ice roads are pretty normal in the far north, I have driven some, glad I had the experience but don't crave more unless there is someplace I really need to go. I have buddies who drove ice roads with heavy trucks delivering freight to mining camps and northern communities, not a fun way to make a living, but seldom dull. the trick to driving heavy loads on lake ice is to go slow, pressure wave under the ice can build up and blow out the road in front of you if you over do it. My dad drove the last really long ice road in Saskatchewan back in the 80's when Uranium City was winding down. He said driving across open ledes on Lake Athabaska was a good way to make you feel mortal. Department of Highways placed steel trusses across the cracks, ( no "deck" ) and you put one wheel on each and drove across. I wouldn't voluntarily drive any ice road until February because prolonged cold and truck traffic drive down the frost and make the lake ice much safer as time goes by.
