Road Limits Explained - North Twin Builders

What are Road Limits and How do they impact my project?

Spring is a season of change, with less snow and more sunshine. It’s also a time when many municipalities begin enforcing weight limits on local roads. These road limits are put in place to protect the roads from damage caused by large trucks and trailers carrying building supplies. During the enforcement period, these vehicles will be unable to navigate restricted roads until the restrictions are lifted in several weeks. While this annual practice helps to protect the roads around your new home, it may impact the timing of your build process.

The Benefit of Seasonal Weight Limits for Roads

Highway departments impose restrictions on road usage to protect and maintain our roads. During warmer temperatures, the top layer of the ground thaws, leaving a water-saturated and unstable base layer underneath the pavement. Below that layer lies another layer of frozen earth. The trapped moisture cannot drain downward into the frozen soil. This creates a repetitive freeze-thaw cycle due to daily temperature fluctuations. This cycle further damages the pavement. Heavy trucks driving over roads in this state can cause the road surface to buckle, crack, and break down.

Homeowners can easily understand the seasonal issue of roads by comparing it to gravel driveways. Driving over gravel after a rain storm can result in a sloppy and shifting surface that shows tire tracks. Similarly, paved roads can also experience similar issues beneath the surface.

Protecting roads is highly beneficial for homeowners. Municipalities spend millions on roadways over time, and preventative measures like weight restrictions can reduce the amount of costly repairs that need to be repeated. If you’re building a new home in an area with road weight limits, keep in mind that you’ll soon be a taxpayer there! These types of restrictions are put in place to help wisely steward your tax dollars and provide your community with quality, long-lasting roads.

How Road Limits Affect Home Construction

Seasonal weight limits are a necessary measure to protect roads and prevent higher future tax bills. However, these limits do have an impact on the timelines of building projects. Many essential construction tasks, such as pouring a concrete foundation or delivering lumber, require the use of heavy trucks, which are prohibited during this period. While some work can continue with materials already on site, major building tasks will inevitably be put on hold temporarily.

It raises the question; how long will the restrictions be in place? Most local areas will start enforcing weight limits in March or earlier, depending on the weather, but determining the end date is more challenging. A timeframe of 5-8 weeks is usual for these restrictions. However, a deep freeze can extend the restrictions by preventing the ground frost from thawing, and a stretch of warm, sunny weather can help things move along. The decision to allow heavy equipment is based on evidence like frost lines rather than timelines.

It is important to note that restrictions on the weight of trucks and trailers are a yearly occurrence. The road commissions are equipped with measures to determine when it is safe to permit these vehicles again. It is crucial to note that timelines and weight limits vary from one municipality to another. Because of this we advise you to consult the public works department in your area for accurate and timely information.

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