Weight restrictions imposed on more Halifax bridges

The Halifax Regional Municipality has imposed weight restrictions on five more bridges that cross the railway track in the city's south end.

The municipality says it is following the advice of CN, which did structural assessments onthe century-old bridges. They will be off limits to any trucks that weigh more than 20 tonnes.

Most cars and trucks will still be allowed on the structures, but heavier vehicles will be banned as of Thursday. The bridges include:

• Marlborough Woods.
• Belmont-on-the-Arm.
• Oakland Road.
• South Street.
• Coburg Road.

The weight restrictionsarein placeuntil further notice. Similar restrictions were imposed on the Quinpool Road bridge in July.

Phil Townsend, the director of infrastructure management for the HRM, said he does not think the weight restrictions will affect the day-to-day lives of people in the neighbourhood.

"This should not interfere with regular business service vehicles, transit vehicles and garbage pickup, and things of that nature," he said.

Townsend said the change may affect trucks moving heavy construction equipment, moving vans or dump trucks, depending on the load.

The municipality saideach bridge willhavesigns with the weight limits and befitted with barriers to protect vehicles from the concrete side walls.