Truckers, farmers advised of new Manitoba detour route

WINNIPEG, Man. -- Manitoba Infrastructure and Transportation is advising truckers and farmers in the Roblin and Russell area that the detour around the damaged area of PTH 83 will be rated for Road and Transportation Association of Canada (RTAC) loads, the maximum legal truck weight, following work on PR 482.

A portion of PTH 83 north of Russell was closed due to a landslide in July. Effective immediately, all traffic will be able to use PTH 5 west of Roblin and PR 482 as the designated detour, officials announced, adding PR 482 can handle RTAC loads now.

Roadwork is scheduled to begin in September to ensure it can continue to carry RTAC loads with increased traffic throughout the fall and winter. All bridges and structures on the new portion of the detour route can also handle RTAC legal truck weights, officials added.

Speed limit reductions will be put in place at points along the detour. During the spring of 2013, typical annual road weight restrictions will be put in place on this portion of PR 482 to protect the road’s structure during the spring thaw period, officials said.

For more information on lane closures and road conditions in Manitoba, call 511 (toll-free), visit www.mb511.ca, or follow @MBGovRoads on Twitter.

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Key trucking route upgraded in northern New Brunswick

PLASTER ROCK, N.B. -- Improvements have been completed to the Trout Brook Bridge on Route 109, a key trucking route in northern New Brunswick, so that it can accommodate trucks carrying loads of up to 50,000 kilograms.  

"By working with the local business community, we have addressed concerns about having to detour by way of Grand Falls or load at less than capacity to reach businesses in western New Brunswick and the United States," said Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Claude Williams.

The department evaluated the route, including structures, determining that the gross vehicle weight rating of all of Route 109 could be increased to 50,000 kilograms from 43,500 kilograms by reinforcing the bridge. Built in 1960, it was not designed to carry heavier commercial loads.

The department tendered a contract in July to strengthen the structure's four beams. The tender closed on Aug. 19 and it was awarded to Fyfe Co. - Atlantic region, Moncton. The company began work on Oct. 3 and finished on Oct. 8.

Each beam had five metres of each of its ends wrapped with a fibre-reinforced polymer to increase the load-carrying capacity of the bridge to the full legal limit.

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