In the past week, Saskatoon has had two separate incidents involving a semi hitting an overpass with an oversized load.

Thomas Archer, the Saskatchewan Trucking Association Leadership, Education and Development Specialist, says that routes are typically planned in order to avoid incidents like the two that occurred in Saskatoon.

“Pre route planning is very important for trucking companies. When you’re transporting, let’s say heavy equipment or some sort of load of any type, you need to know what your heights are. Typically, municipalities mark the heights and they’re fairly public of the bridges you’re going under. Typically, someone who’s doing pre route planning would be privy to those dimensions that they’re having to cross over or go under in this case.”

Along with posting heights of overpasses, Archer adds that municipalities usually have routes set out for truckers carrying larger loads.

“I know the City of Regina has LCV routes that companies can go look at and say, ‘Okay, this is the route I have to take if I have longer vehicles.'”

Archer says that the Saskatchewan Trucking Association has training on cargo securement, safety codes, as well as some driving courses. He adds that drivers may need a permit to carry loads that exceed a typical road weight.

On March 5th an over-height load hit the overpass at Highway 11 and Highway 16 on the south side of Saskatoon.  Damage is such that eastbound on Circle Drive towards Highway 16 is still down to one lane at the overpass.  On March 12th, an over-height load hit the overpass at 108th Street.  Clean-up is complete and all restrictions are removed.