County of Northern Lights
Road Bans & Closures
As of 9:00 am June 8, 2010 there will be no road bans in place with the following exception:
Dandoe Road (TWP 844 between RR 223 & Hwy #743) will have a 24 hour, 75% road ban until further notice.
Overweight permits can be obtained through RoaData Services Ltd. at 1-888-830-7623. Please call the County office at 836-3348 if further information is required.
The County's Road Ban Policy is established by Council and managed by Administration. The Director of Public Works issues and publishes notices as required.
As spring approaches and roads thaw staff monitor the levels of frost in the ground and establish road bans at specific high-risk areas. Thawing increases the moisture level in roadbeds making them softer than at any other time during the year. In this weakened state roads are more susceptible to damage caused by even normal traffic loads. Once a road weight restriction is necessary, signs are erected at major points along the road to advise truckers and farmers hauling heavy loads of the “percentage axle-weight” their vehicle is allowed. These percentages, which only apply to the hauling vehicle’s weight bearing axle(s) and not the front steering axel, may vary depending upon the frost levels of the road bed that is thawing.
Under normal road conditions, a tandem axle vehicle is allowed 17,000 kgs. Under a 75% road restriction/ban the weight carry axle is only allowed 12,750 kgs.
A common error made by some haulers is to simply reduce their vehicle’s gross weight to the road ban percentage. However, improper load distribution often places too much weight on the load-carrying axles, which could result in an axle-weight violation and substantial road damage even though the hauler reduces the gross weight of the vehicle!
Obtaining information on spring road bans is available [Feb-July] from www.roadata.com or at local vehicle inspection stations [weigh scales].