Freeze or thaw, this winter’s heavy snows are already playing havoc with the Twin Cities’ roads.

Both cities kicked off road postings today for heavy traffic along their outlying roads. In Lewiston, vehicles weighing more than 23,000 pounds will be banned from 13 outlying roads.

In Auburn, vehicles weighing more than 16,000 pounds are banned from 48 city streets, and vehicles weighing more than 8,000 pounds are banned from another 15 roads.

Those bans are in place until May, or until the roads stop freezing.

“We do it based on the conditions at the time,” said Bob Belz, Auburn’s public works director.

It’s not just a problem for heavy trucks, according to Lewiston Public Works Director Paul Boudreau. Those streets are more likely to see frost heaves and potholes forming during the gradual warming of March and April.

“But we’ve been experiencing some light thawing and a lot of moisture all winter,” said Boudreau. “That’s why we’re seeing the potholes so much earlier.”

Winter runoff and spring rain seep into the ground under all of the cities’ streets, but the older roads don’t have good drainage. That water freezes in place then thaws, breaking down the road base. The result is mushy roads easily damaged by heavy traffic.