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Cranbrook, BC (March 10, 2025) – Effective Friday, March 13, 2026, the City of Cranbrook will be implementing seasonal road load restrictions on city streets. These temporary restrictions help protect roads during the spring thaw, when melting frost makes the ground beneath the pavement soft and unstable.

When frost leaves the ground, the soil under the road becomes saturated and weaker. Heavy vehicles travelling on these roads can quickly cause damage and create unsafe driving conditions. To help prevent this, most streets in the City will be limited to 70% Legal Axle Loading, while some local streets may be reduced to 50% Legal Axle Loading depending on conditions. Roadside signs will be posted to notify drivers where these restrictions apply.

To support commercial and industrial deliveries, the City has identified several main routes that will continue to allow 100% Legal Axle Loading. A map showing these routes is available on the City’s website: https://cranbrook.ca/our-city/city-departments/public-works/city-road-load-restrictions-map/.

In special circumstances, applications for overload or oversize permits can be submitted to the City for a single load. These permits are intended for occasional extraordinary loads and are not meant for ongoing industrial use during the restriction period.

The City works closely with the British Columbia Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure, which issues regional load restriction notices based on data that tracks frost depth and road strength. The City aims to align its restrictions with the Province, especially where heavy vehicles may be travelling to or from industrial or construction operations outside City limits.

Road users who want updates on provincial highway load restrictions can sign up for email notifications through the Ministry at: http://www.th.gov.bc.ca/bchighways/loadrestrictions/loadrestrictions.htm.