Seasonal Loads

Under the Highway Traffic Act, the province enforces reduced load restrictions on trucks to protect Ontario's highways during spring thaw, when road damage is most likely to occur.

Last Updated: January 24th, 2025

Raw Forest Products freeze up period

The Raw Forest products freeze up period is in effect for the following areas: 

ZONE 1A
North of a line drawn through the following points:

  1. Highway 71 - at its intersection 54.5 kilometres north of the Junction of Highway 11 and Highway 71.
  2. Highway 502 - immediately south of its intersection with Cedar Narrows Road.
  3. Highway 622 - at its intersection 63 kilometres north of Junction Highway 11B and Highway 622.
  4. Highway 17 - at the south limits of the village of Upsala.
  5. Highway 527 - at its intersection with the Eaglehead Lake Road.
  6. Highway 11 - at Orient Bay, due east to the westerly Algoma District Boundary.
  7. Highway 11 - at its intersection approximately 2 kilometres west of the Pagwachuan River.
And following north of Highway 11 to the 50th degree north latitude, then due east to the Quebec/Ontario border.

ZONE 1B
South of a line drawn through the following points:
  1. Highway 71 - at its intersection 54.5 kilometres north of the Junction of Highway 11 and Highway 71.
  2. Highway 502 - immediately south of its intersection with Cedar Narrows Road.
  3. Highway 622 - at its intersection 63 kilometres north of Junction Highway 11B and Highway 622.
  4. Highway 17 - at the south limits of the village of Upsala.
  5. Highway 527 - at its intersection with the Eaglehead Lake Road.
  6. Highway 11 - at Orient Bay, due east to the westerly Algoma District Boundary.
  7. Highway 17 - at its intersection 6 kilometres west of Highway 631.

And following southerly along the westerly Algoma District Boundary to Lake Superior.

ZONE 2A
North of a line drawn as follows:
 1.Highway 17 – from the junction of Highway 101 easterly along Highway 101 to the Quebec border including Highway 101.

Zone 2B
South of a line drawn as follows:
 1.Highway 17 – from the junction of Highway 101 easterly along Highway 101 to the Quebec border.

North of a line drawn as follows:
 1.From the North shore of Lake Huron at Sault Ste. Marie extending along the north Shore of Georgian Bay to Port Severn including St. Joseph Island and Manitoulin Island.
 2.Hwy 400 at Port Severn to Highway 11 at Severn Bridge
 3.Highway 11 at Severn Bridge to Highway 35 at Minden, then northerly along and including Highway 35 to Highway 60.
 4.Easterly on and including Highway 60 to Cache Lake, then from Cache Lake in a straight line to Highway 17 at Pembroke

Zone 3
All areas east of the City of Kawartha Lakes – Durham Line and the Durham Region – Northumberland County Line, and south of a line from Severn Bridge to the east side of Highway 35 at Minden, thence northerly on the east side of Highway 35 to the south side of Highway 60, thence easterly on the south side of Highway 60 to Cache Lake thence, in a straight line including Highway 60 through Pembroke to the Ottawa River.

Restriction on permits

All annual and project overweight permits are not valid on any highways unless otherwise specified on the permit during:

  • March and April in Southern Ontario
  • March, April and May in Northern Ontario

For purposes of this restriction, the province is divided, west to east, by:

  • A line formed by the Severn River to Regional Rd. 169
  • Regional Rd. 169 from Washago to Hwy. 12
  • Hwy. 12, from Regional Rd. 169 to Hwy. 7, north of Sunderland
  • Hwy. 7, from Hwy. 12 to Regional Rd. 7B at Carleton Place
  • Regional Rd. 7B to Hwy. 15
  • Regional Rd. 29 to Arnprior

Single trip permits, for moving of overloads on highways not designated in Schedules 1, 2 and 3, may be issued, but are subject to axle controls established by the Ministry of Transportation.

Reduced Loads

Schedule 1

Pursuant to the Highway Traffic Act, the ministry will impose reduced load limits for those designated parts of the King's Highways listed in Schedule 1, when appropriate, between March 1, 2025 to April 30, 2025.

None at this time.

Schedule 2

Pursuant to the Highway Traffic Act, the ministry will impose reduced load limits for those designated parts of the King's Highways listed in Schedule 2, when appropriate, between March 1, 2025 to May 31, 2025.

None at this time

Schedule 3

Pursuant to the Highway Traffic Act, the ministry will impose reduced load limits for those designated parts of the King's Highways/Roads listed in Schedule 3, when appropriate, between March 1, 2025 to June 30, 2025.

None at this time.

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