Fort Chipewyan Winter Road

Starting on Friday, the Fort Chipewyan Winter Road and La Loche Winter Trail load limits are reducing to 5,000 kg for passenger vehicles, before closing for the season on Tuesday, April 7. 

Cold weather and a late spring means the Fort Chipewyan Winter Road remains open at its maximum weight limit of 45,000 kg.  

All weight limit reductions will be declared in advance as spring approaches and temperatures rise. As in past years, daytime load limits will be announced as the weather warms.

A third load of two modular homes is heading north on the Fort Chipewyan Winter Road on Friday morning, Feb. 27.

Southbound travel from Fort Chipewyan to Fort McMurray will be temporarily unavailable from 12:01 a.m. to 10 a.m. Northbound drivers should also expect delays during this time.

Another wide load of two modular homes is heading north on the Fort Chipewyan Winter Road on Monday morning, Feb. 23.

Southbound travel from Fort Chipewyan to Fort McMurray will be temporarily unavailable from 12:01 a.m. to 10 a.m. Northbound drivers should also expect delays on the winter road during this time.

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.

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.