Road damage caused by vehicles that exceed the half-load restriction. (Photo courtesy of Miguel Pelletier.)Road damage caused by vehicles that exceed the half-load restriction. (Photo courtesy of Miguel Pelletier.)
Chatham

Spring Arrives Early For Truck Drivers

With temperatures rising into the double digits, half-load season is starting a week early this year in Chatham-Kent.

Truck weight restrictions were placed on municipal highways Wednesday, to protect local roads from damage during the spring melt.

Areas with half-loads in effect will have this signage posted. (Photo courtesy of Miguel Pelletier.) Areas with half-loads in effect will have this signage posted. (Photo courtesy of Miguel Pelletier.)

"The ice starts melting and then there's some rain, so the road bases become saturated with water. The damage initially will be on the surface. You'll see potholes and rutting," says Miguel Pelletier, director of Public Works. "It will also migrate to the part that supports the road. When that gets damaged, the only way to repair that is you have to dig up the road and then re-compact it."

Reduced loads are implemented annually on March 1, but Pelletier says since freezing weather isn't likely between now and then, restrictions are already in place. If dry conditions persist, he adds restrictions could be lifted earlier than April 30.

Areas with reduced loads in effect will have signage posted.

"It's rural roads and secondary roads [that are mostly affected]," says Pelletier. "Some of them are asphalt, but they were not built for all-season loads."

-With files from Matt Weverink.

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