Fort Chipewyan Winter Road

A wide load of two modular homes is heading north on the Fort Chipewyan Winter Road on Friday morning, Feb. 13.

The road will be closed to southbound traffic from midnight to 10 a.m., and northbound drivers should also expect delays during this time.

Warm weather means a daytime load limit of 5,000 kg will be in effect on Wednesday, Feb. 4 for the Fort Chipewyan Winter Road and the La Loche Winter Trail. This weight restriction is needed to limit damage to the roads.

Traffic will be restricted to light vehicles only (5,000 kg) from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Wednesday. The limit will go back to 45,000 kg after 10 p.m. for the Fort Chipewyan Winter Road and 27,500 kg for the La Loche Winter Trail.

Effective Jan. 29 at noon, the load limit for the Fort Chipewyan Winter Road is increasing to 45,000 kg. 

Load limits for winter roads in the region will be going up with the arrival of colder temperatures.

Unusually warm weather will see weight restrictions and temporary road closures affecting winter roads in the region this week. These restrictions are needed to limit damage to the roads.

Starting today Friday, Jan. 2 at noon, the vehicle load limit for the Fort Chipewyan Winter Road is increasing to 15,000 kg. Vehicles heavier than 15,000 kg must stay off the winter road until load limits are increased. Heavier vehicles could damage the road, causing serious safety hazards and delays in reaching higher load limits.

The Fort Chipewyan Winter Road is opening at noon, Saturday, Dec. 20, to light vehicles less than 5,000 kg in weight.

Good progress is being made now on safely opening the Fort Chipewyan Winter Road, but early warm weather and low snowfall delayed construction timelines. It is still too early to say when the winter road will open.

Municipal contractors are building the Fort Chipewyan Winter Road, despite delays caused by warm weather.

Construction work will continue in December, with a target opening date before Dec. 25. As always, the opening of the winter road is dependent on weather and the progress crews make in ensuring the road is safe for vehicles.