Businesses celebrate lifting of load restrictions

Creemore area businesses organized a caravan early last Friday morning to celebrate the lifting of seasonal load restrictions on a portion of County Roads 9 and 42.

About 25 trucks paraded along County Road 9 from Midwest Metals to Steer’s new facility at Cashtown Corners, with Mayor Doug Measures and Deputy Mayor Barry Burton travelling in the lead vehicle. 

The County of Simcoe lifted the restriction, which would have come into effect March 1, in response to a request from the Township of Clearview, specifically a number of Creemore and area businesses that rely on trucking to move goods and provide services.

A committee of affected businesses, going by the name of Clearview Road Upgrade Committee, including Creemore Springs Brewery, Alliance Homes, Midwest Metals and many agricultural related businesses came forward requesting a 10-kilometre portion of the county roads be brought up to standard to allow for full loads, negating the need for half loads in March and April, during the spring thaw.

Burton, who was championing the issue on behalf of those businesses said at the time of the decision last May, he was happy to see the restrictions lifted but would have rather had council support the option with funding for road reconstruction built in.

Full depth reconstruction for this 10-kilometre section is estimated at $20 million.

County staff reported the portions of County Roads 9 and 42 are in good condition but the precise impact of removing the seasonal load limits is unknown, adding it is certain to reduce the useful life of the road and cause premature surface deficiencies that will need to be addressed.

Currently, the road is not scheduled for rehabilitation until 2028.