Overweight vehicles will be prohibited from crossing the Champlain Bridge starting Monday, Oct. 10.
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The preventative measure aims to maintain traffic to-and-from Montreal while preserving the bridge’s structural integrity.
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“Over 5.3 million trucks cross the Champlain Bridge each year. However, repeated trips of overweight vehicles put stress on the structure beyond the load limits that it was designed to bear,” explained Glen P. Carlin, chief executive officer of the Jacques Cartier and Champlain Bridges Incorporated (JCCBI).
“Just like the dynamic traffic lights installed in summer 2015 to put truck traffic in the centre lanes, this preventative measure is a sound and targeted action to lighten the applied loads on the bridge structure.”
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Since 2008, JCCBI has closely monitored the bridge to ensure that it remains safe, investing an average of $100 million a year in repairs until the new Champlain Bridge opens.
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Specialized permits
A Class 5 permit allows truckers to operate an outsized vehicle with respect to the axle load, or a total loaded mass of between 66 and 79 tonnes.
A Class 6 permit allows for loads that exceed the limits of a Class 5 permit.
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A Class 7 permit — which will continue to be reviewed on a case-by-case basis, as these vehicles may be outsized but not overweight — allows for outsized transportation in terms of vehicle dimensions.