Road weight restrictions coming next week
Province implements guidelines for heavy trucks on N.B. roads ahead of spring thaw period
Transports and heavy trucks will be subject to new but temporary restrictions on New Brunswick roads beginning next week, the provincial government announced Monday.
The provincial Department of Transportation and Infrastructure issued a news release Monday morning about its upcoming spring weight restrictions for truck traffic.
They will come into effect at 12:01 a.m. on Monday, March 9, in southern New Brunswick, and at 12:01 a.m. on Monday, March 16, in northern New Brunswick, the release said.
The restrictions - aimed at protecting roads from damage during the frost-and-thaw period as the seasons shift from winter to spring - will be in effect until Sunday, May 10, in southern New Brunswick and Sunday, May 17, in northern New Brunswick.
“We provide this notice to the trucking community, so they may prepare to reduce their loads or plan for alternate routes during this period,” Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Chuck Chiasson said in the release.
It said officials determine the timing of restrictions by monitoring weather conditions and tracking the progress of the thaw using sensors located around the province, and dates depend upon weather conditions and can change.
The department directs that the northern New Brunswick area, for the purpose of the restrictions, includes all areas within the counties of Northumberland, Gloucester, Restigouche, Madawaska and Victoria; the section of Route 108 within York County; sections of Gordon Vale Road and Holtville Road within York County; Route 123 within Sunbury County and Queens County; the section of Bloomfield Ridge Road between Holtville Road and Route 625; and Route 625 between Gordon Vale Road and Route 8.
“Should weather conditions warrant, regional directors are authorized to close roads to trucks or impose weight restrictions on highways or portions of highways at any time,” the release said.
Additional information on the spring weight restrictions is available on the provincial government’s website.
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