Load restrictions to change on provincial roads

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — Peace region residents can expect to see fewer heavy vehicles locally as road weight limits are set to change.

British Columbia’s Ministry of Transportation is updating its load restrictions on provincial roads within the North Peace.

According to a public notice from the ministry, beginning on March 3rd, vehicles will be restricted to only carrying 70 per cent of their legal axle loading capacity on most paved and gravel provincial side roads.

However, vehicles will be able to carry 100 per cent of their legal axle loading capacity on all provincial numbered roads, paved or gravel.

Side roads are smaller roads that connect local areas, while numbered roads are part of the provincial highway system.

There is also a long list of side roads exempt from the 70 per cent limit, where vehicles can carry 50, 75 or 100 per cent of their legal axle loading capacity. 

One of those exemptions is a stretch of 100th Avenue from the Fort St. John city limits on 79th Street all the way to Swanson Lumber Road 259.

Other notable exemptions include East Bypass Road 146 from the city limits to 93rd Street, and West Bypass Road 145 from the city limits to Rose Prairie Road 101.

The full list of exemptions is available on the provincial government’s website.

The restrictions also lift overnight, from 10:00 p.m. to 10:00 a.m.

All overload permits on restricted routes are invalid while these restrictions are in place. Load restrictions exist to help ensure the strength of the roads.

Residents are also being reminded that these restrictions don’t apply to roads within the Northern Rockies Regional Municipality (NRRM).

Anyone in need of information regarding load restrictions within the NRRM can call (250) 774-2541.