New permit system for wide loads in Cypress
By Medicine Hat News on November 25, 2021.
A new permitting system for over-dimensional loads travelling on Township Road 120 to bypass Medicine Hat is now in place, according to a release by Cypress County. Last spring, county council asked administrators for options to control heavy and wide loads traversing the route that connects highways 1 and 3 on a route south of the city. At that point administrators stated the road was not engineered to handle the heavy trucks, and was nearly at end of life due to increased use. This summer, the two-lane road underwent new paving, intersection improvements and some structural upgrades. As of Nov. 15, loads wider than 5.5 metres (18-feet) or longer than 36.2 metres (120 feet) will be required pay a $500 licensing fee as part of a special load agreement. It will require proof of insurance with a minimum $10-million coverage and a plan to use at least five escort vehicles during the trip. The county is also in talks with Alberta Transportation to have the county-owned road become part of the province’s high-load corridor program, which is typically made up of primary and secondary highways, which are the responsibility of the province. 7-6
