An overweight semi-trailer unit becomes bogged down to its axles along a rural road (Corman Park Police photo)

Truckers hauling heavy loads on gravel roads in rural municipalities (RMs), including the RM of Corman Park, RM of Vanscoy, and RM of Rosthern, will have to plan their routes carefully.

Spring road bans in area  RMs came into effect on Monday, March 28. The restrictions will remain in effect for at least six weeks.

During winter months, truckers are permitted to transport heavier loads on gravel roads because the road sub-base is frozen, and therefore stronger.But as the weather warms up, the ground gradually thaws out and loses its capacity to support primary-weight loads.

Corman Park Police Constable Carey Scriven said the removal of winter weights is aimed at protecting the structural integrity of gravel roads.

An overweight truck is stopped by police for failing to abide by the 10-tonne weight limit on the road (Corman Park Police photo)

“At this time of year, when the frost is coming out of the ground, the road sub-base is weak,” said Scriven. “If the roads are subjected to very heavy loads, they’ll literally break apart.

“It’s not just the top layers of gravel that’s a concern. If the road is damaged right down to its sub-base level, then those sections of road will have to be completely rebuilt. That’s a very expensive proposition for taxpayers.”

Each year, the RM of Corman Park applies new gravel to about 200 miles (322 kilometers) of its roads. There are a total of 800 miles (1289 kilometers) of roadways, both gravel and hard-surface, throughout the municipality. The bulk of those roads are gravel. Many of the paved roads in the RM of Corman Park have 10-tonne weight limits.

According to the provincial Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure, spring road restrictions are used by the province and RMs to mitigate serious road damage.

The spring road bans reduce allowable weights on RM roads and secondary weight provincial highways by 10 to 15 per cent, and generally last about six weeks or 42 days. However, the bans can be extended in the event of heavy rains or other adverse weather conditions.

Typically, these road restrictions start in mid-March in the southwest part of the province and move in an eastern and northern direction as the month progresses.

Scriven said truck drivers and companies employing truckers have an ongoing responsibility to be aware of changing conditions, and follow the regulations. Updated  rules are posted on the provincial Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure website on an ongoing basis.

Scriven said drivers should plan their routes ahead of time to ensure they travel on primary weight roads.

Fines for overweight vehicles are significant.

Police officers check a suspected overweight vehicle (Corman Park Police photo)

Corman Park Police Chief Ron Chomyn said the police are looking to be proactive in educating drivers; but they will also be actively enforcing the spring road bans.

“We don’t want to charge people unless we have to,” said Chomyn. “But the damage that overweight vehicles can do to grid roads is very costly.”

Scriven said provincial legislation empowers peace officers to enforce weight restrictions on rural roads.

He noted that officers receive specialized training to help them accurately determine overweight vehicles. Two of the patrol units in the Corman Park Police fleet are equipped with portable scales that allow officers to weigh large vehicles at the roadside. Officers are also allowed to have the suspect vehicle moved up to 40 kilometers to a weigh scale.

Scriven said there are some secondary weight roads in the RM that are commonly used as short cuts by truckers.

“Quite often trucks travelling eastbound on Highway 16 from North Battleford will take Township Road 390  (also known as the Warman Grid or Struan Grid) east, instead of driving a few minutes further and heading east on Township Road 382 (Lutheran Road).” said Scrivens. “Township Road 390 is a secondary weight road and is subject to weight bans, but Township Road 382 is a primary weight road and is designed and built to handle those large loads year round.”