WESTLOCK - Westlock County’s spring road ban comes into effect April 7 when posted axle weights on rural roads will drop to 75 per cent.
The county made the announcement March 25 via the Westlock Regional Notification System, noting the spring thaw puts roads in a “fragile state” as built-up frost begins to melt. Subsequently, the road bed becomes soft as water is trapped between the surface and a layer of frozen ice and gravel underneath. Heavy, repetitive loads across these stretches can create “permanent damage, potholes, ruts, and gouges in the road surface.”
Interim CAO Pat Vincent said March 25 that protecting the roads, especially when they’re most vulnerable in the spring, is “paramount.” The ban is only temporary and typically runs March to June, weather dependent.
“Damaged roads cost taxpayers; tax dollars that can be saved if we preserve our roads by simply limiting load weights for a short period of time,” said Vincent, who thanked industry ahead of time for their cooperation. “With the frost coming out of the ground, the road base softens and is unable to support normal load weights without sustaining substantial damage. Protecting our road infrastructure is paramount.”
Road ban FAQs
What are posted axle weights? Posted axle weights are the weight restrictions for vehicles that lowers the maximum legal registered permitted weight placed on a road. This protects the infrastructure from damage.
What is overweight? Overweight is defined as the weight on an axle or axle group, or total gross weight, being more than that allowed under the Traffic Safety Act.
