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Concern over gravel trucks ignoring seasonal load restrictions in Chatham-Kent
Credit: By Vicki Gough, Chatham Daily News | Sunday, March 17, 2013 | www.chathamdailynews.ca ~~
Translate: FROM English | TO English
Translate: FROM English | TO English
A Blenheim area property owner was watching with dismay countless gravel trucks travelling daily over local roads last week and the projects are far from complete.
“Loads on certain roads are restricted for six weeks in the spring,” James Alderton of Knights Line told The Chatham Daily News.
While not against progress, Alderton feels the trucks hauling gravel to the wind turbine construction sites in his area should have to obey the rules of the road.
He’s concerned the vehicles are running with full loads causing potholes and waves that feel like, “you’re driving over a washboard.”
The long self-unloading gravel trailers were visible last week hauling material along Harwich Road to two new wind turbine sites on Welch Line, one road south of Knights Line.
Municipalities impose weight restrictions of 5 tonnes per axle on secondary roads during spring thaw to minimize surface wear and tear.
Alderton said a truck and fully loaded five-axle trailer could weigh over 45 tonnes.
“I’ve called city hall and no one’s returned my calls,” Alderton said.
“I even called the MTO (Ministry of Transportation Ontario).”
Telephone calls by The Daily News to municipal staff Friday weren’t returned as of press time Sunday.
Alderton knows first-hand the consequences of ignoring the load restrictions.
He said he received a fine “a couple of years ago” when transporting some items to a recycling yard and the vehicle was over the seasonal limit.
“If the wind farm company pays for the road repairs – fine,” said Alderton.
He doesn’t think local taxpayers should be stuck with the repair bill.
Alderton said a local landfill operator contributed to the cost of upgrading area roads to support the additional traffic and weight of the large trucks hauling garbage into Chatham-Kent.
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