WHEREAS Alberta Infrastructure establishes maximum legal weights for the transportation industry;AND WHEREAS the maximum legal weights for primary and secondary highways become the “expected” standard for local roads;AND WHEREAS Alberta Infrastructure has recently approved a 1,000-kilogram increase in legal weights on primary and secondary highways, for medium-spread (up to 3 metres between axles) tridems;AND WHEREAS the permits to operate on local roads would be revised on renewal to reflect the heavier weights;AND WHEREAS increased weight limits will have a negative impact upon the local road infrastructure throughout rural Alberta;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Alberta Association of Municipal Districts and Counties express to the Infrastructure Minister their opposition to this increase, and further request that any approved increase in legal load limits be tied to an increase in funding to upgrade local roads and bridge structures, thus ensuring that the infrastructure will withstand the increased load limit.

Alberta Infrastructure has stated that they will be increasing the legal axle load limits by 1,000 kg on primary and secondary highways, for tridems with a medium spread (up to 3 metres between axles). Once approved, these increased weights become the expected standard for local roads.The local road infrastructure throughout rural Alberta is already under severe strain from the load limits of today’s transportation industry. In many cases, the roads in question were designed for much lighter load limits. Another increase in these limits will increase maintenance requirements and costs incurred by municipalities.

The AAMDC currently has no resolutions in effect on this specific issue.The AAMDC Board of Directors met with Alberta Infrastructure officials in June 2000 to discuss the department’s proposal to implement increased axle weights on provincial highways. At that time, the board expressed concerns with the potential impact of this change on local roads, and particularly with respect to local bridge structures.