With the spring thaw and changes in weather, half-load restrictions will come into effect on March 13th in Huntsville and throughout Muskoka.
Half-load restrictions occur every year in the spring on select roadways in Huntsville.
When a half-load restriction is in place, it means that vehicles over 5 tonnes per axe in weight are not permitted to use certain Huntsville roads.
This restriction protects the road and road base from being permanently damaged during a spring thaw from heavy vehicle loads.
As frost and moisture come out of the road base, the road can then become softer and weaker. Heavy vehicle loads can cause the road to settle, break apart or even heave, which will lead to permanent road damage resulting in uneven driving surface and possible damage to vehicles. To avoid the reconstruction of roads after every spring, which would cost a lot of taxpayers’ dollars, municipalities impose load restrictions to give the roads time to properly thaw and shed the frost.
Heavy trucks and transport vehicles are advised to use alternate routes to navigate Huntsville and District of Muskoka roads.
For a list of Huntsville half-load road exemptions please visit Huntsville.ca.