2013 Spring Weight Restrictions

Bulletin # 4-13(Apr. 24/13) The Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal advises that effective 12:01 am., Monday, April 29, 2013 Spring Weight Restrictions will be removed from the following Counties:

Yarmouth, Shelburne, Queens, Lunenburg, Digby, Annapolis, Kings, Halifax and Hants

Effective 12:01 am., Monday, May 6, 2013 Spring Weight Restrictions will be removed from the following Counties:

Cumberland, Colchester, Pictou, Antigonish, Guysborough, Richmond, Inverness, Victoria and Cape Breton

NOTE: The Department may still have individual roads posted for lower weights in the above Counties to prevent damage to the roadways. Industry are advised that the posted weights will be enforced.


Bulletin # 3-13(Mar. 8/13) Effective immediately, the following road is exempt from Spring Weight Restrictions:

    Halifax County:
  • Margeson Drive, from Highway 101 to Trunk 1, 1.5 km.


Bulletin # 2-13(Mar. 8/13) Effective immediately, the following road is exempt from Spring Weight Restrictions:

    Shelburne & Yarmouth Counties:
  • Route 203, from Highway 103 northerly to Rio Algom Tin Mine entrance, 55.3 km.

NOTE: was previously 43.2 km in length has been extended to 55.3 km.



Bulletin # 1-13(Mar. 5/13) Effective immediately, the following road is exempt from Spring Weight Restrictions:

    Kings County:
  • Cambridge Mountain Road, from Trunk 1 southerly to Prospect Road, 3.3 km.



IN THE MATTER OF SECTION 20 OF THE PUBLIC HIGHWAYS ACT

R.S.N.S. 1989, C. 371

ORDER

Pursuant to subsection 20 (1) of Chapter 371 of the Revised Statutes of Nova Scotia, the Public Highways Act, Charles MacDonald, the Executive Director Maintenance and Operations of the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal hereby orders that:

  • a) the Weight Restrictions set out below (hereafter referred to as "Spring Weight Restrictions"), shall apply to public highways in the zones shown for the time period indicated in Table A, and
  • the roads set out in Appendix 1, attached hereto, are exempt from the Spring Weight Restrictions.

TABLE A

ZONE

WEIGHT RESTRICTION PERIOD

Counties of:
Yarmouth, Shelburne, Annapolis, Digby, Lunenburg, Kings and Queens		 12:01 am., Monday, March 11, 2013 to
12:01 am., Monday, May 6, 2013
Counties of:
Halifax and Hants		 12:01 am., Monday, March 11, 2013 to
12:01 am., Monday, May 6, 2013
Counties of: Colchester, Cumberland,
and Pictou		 12:01 am., Monday, March 18, 2013 to
12:01 am., Monday, May 6, 2013
Counties of: Antigonish, Guysborough, Richmond, Inverness, Victoria and Cape Breton. 12:01 am., Monday, March 18, 2013 to
12:01 am., Monday, May 6, 2013

SPRING WEIGHT RESTRICTIONS

The maximum vehicle and axle weights permitted by this order are as follows:

  • (A) Maximum single axle weight of 6,500 kg except single drive school and passenger buses, public utility service trucks, and fire fighting trucks;
  • Maximum tandem or triple axle weight of 12,000 kg per axle grouping;
  • Maximum tridem or tridem equivalent axle weight of 18,000 kg per axle grouping;
  • Maximum gross vehicle weight of 12,000 kg for single drive school and passenger buses, public utility service trucks, and fire fighting trucks that exceed 6,500 kg on a single axle;

Exemptions are as follows:

(a) public utility service trucks while responding to emergency situations, where an emergency situation includes the restoration of services or the establishment of new services to occupied buildings.

(b) fire fighting trucks while responding to emergency situations, where an emergency situation includes attending actual fires, medical crises, motor vehicles accidents, and assisting in fire investigations.

(c) trucks hauling bulk milk and solid waste (garbage haulers) are permitted to haul 80% of normal axle loads, steering axles are permitted to carry registered weight to a maximum of 6,500 kg;

these haulers must apply to Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations for a special permit for each vehicle transporting one of the above mentioned products (no cost to the carrier)

the Special Permit will come with the following conditions that must be adhered to:

  • the exact route(s) to be taken must be submitted by the carrier and identified on the special permit
  • the special permit must be in the vehicle at all times and must be available for presentation to a Compliance Officer
  • the vehicle must be transporting one of the above mentioned products only
  • the vehicle must travel only the route(s) identified on the Special Permit

For purposes of this Order, the following Definitions apply:

1. "Single Axle" means an axle which transfers the load carried by it approximately equally to the wheel or wheels attached to each end of the axle.

2. "Tandem-Axle" means an axle assembly containing two (2) consecutive axles whose centres are not less than 1.20 metres apart or greater then 1.85 metres apart;

    2.1 attached to the vehicle in such a manner that the load on the axle group is equalized on the two (2) axles, and

    2.2 equipped with brakes on both axles.

3. "Triple-Axle" means an axle assembly of three (3) consecutive axles with the centres of no two (2) consecutive axles less than 1.20 metres apart, and

    3.1 attached to the vehicle in such a manner that the load on the axle group is equalized on three (3) axles, and

    3.2 equipped with brakes on all three axles.

4. "Tridem-Axle" means an axle group of three (3) consecutive, equally spaced axles within a vehicle that does not include any liftable or self-steering axles, and that has the same number and size of tires on each axle;

    4.1 tridem equivalent axle means an axle group that is made up of three (3) consecutive, equally spaced axles within a vehicle and that has all lift axles lowered and the same number and size, and that has the same number and size of tires on each axle;

    4.2 minimum outside axle spacing from 2.40 metres to a maximum of 3.70 metres.

5. "Gross Vehicle Weight" means the sum of the individual axle weights of all axles of the vehicle or combination of vehicles.