Load Restrictions

Half-load restrictions are in effect.
Half load restrictions will be lifted on Monday May 10,2021

We need weight restrictions to prevent damage to our roads. Every year, our Muskoka municipalities put half-load, or reduced/seasonal load restrictions on select roadways to protect our infrastructure. 

When half-load restrictions are in effect, signs will indicate our road is off-limits to heavy transports and vehicles exceeding 5 tonnes per axle. However, there may be alternate routes or that can be taken to reach the destination.  Visit our website to explore an interactive map of District road half-load restrictions on Muskoka GeoHub, the District’s online web mapping portal. 

For more information about load restrictions on District roads, please contact our office at 705-645-6764 or email us at publicworks@muskoka.on.ca 

Reason for weight requirements

In the spring, as frost comes out of the ground and moisture comes out of the road bed:

• Roads become softer and weaker
• Heavy loads on roads can cause it to sink and break apart, which can lead to permanent damage
• Half-load restrictions are put in place to protect our roads and road beds from being damaged
• Reduces the need of having to re-build a road after every spring thaw 

Time of year

With spring thaw and changes in weather, half-load restrictions are generally from March to May. Exact  dates are set each year, dependent on road conditions and temperatures.