The Greater Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce says they would support further amendments to the city’s traffic bylaw in the aftermath of recent incidents involving semis with over-height loads hitting overpasses and causing damage.

While the city added penalties and fines last year, Chamber CEO Jason Aebig thinks they haven’t gone far enough.

“If there is an interest in revisiting those penalties, maybe increasing those penalties, we would certainly be supportive. At the end of the day, I guess they haven’t really served their purpose as a deterrent.”

He believes that raising fines could lessen the number of incidents.

“If we need to increase fines to compel haulers and companies to properly plan their routes, measure their loads, make sure that they’re safe, then maybe that’s something we have to do.”

Aebig adds that it is not local companies and drivers who are the ones hitting overpasses, and that it is people from out of the city.

“You don’t hear about our companies in the news crashing into other people’s overpasses and bridges. And so, if we have to send a stronger message through stiffer penalties, that companies have to do their due diligence if they plan to transport any freight through our city, then that’s what needs to happen.”

A report outlining the estimated damages of the overpass incidents goes to City Council this week. Repairs for the Highway 16 over Highway 11 overpass are estimated to cost $400,000 and repairs for the 108th Street over Circle Drive overpass are estimated to cost $350,000.

The city understands that the operators did not have a daily or annual Saskatoon truck permit.