The 10-tonne weight restriction on the James River Bridge applies to all traffic, including emergency vehicles, officials say.
Although emergency vehicles are allowed to travel on roads that have been banned to regular traffic, Clearwater County's director of public works told the Round Up there are no such exceptions in place for bridge weight restrictions.
"Nobody is exempt," said Marshall Morton, when asked whether there are certain extenuating circumstances that would allow emergency vehicles that weigh more than 10 tonnes to cross the James River Bridge.
The bridge, which is in Clearwater County just north of Sundre on Rge. Rd. 53, is technically owned by the province but managed by the municipality, he said.
The aging infrastructure, which once faced a complete closure because of failing structural integrity, has received an upgrade, he said.
"The work we just did brought it up to a 10-tonne (limit). That makes it passable for vehicles under 10 tonnes."
Bridges and infrastructure located on the provincial highway network in the province are managed by Alberta Transportation, a spokesperson said.
"This includes overseeing design work, administering construction contracts, and inspecting and preserving existing infrastructure," said Anna Neale.
"Managing and maintaining local roads and bridges, such as the James River Bridge, are the responsibility of municipalities. The James River Bridge falls under the purview of Clearwater County.
"It is considered a major bridge, and as such, Alberta Transportation does regular inspections on behalf of the county. Because it is a local structure, however, any actions required as a result of those inspections are the responsibility of the county," she said.
"Managing and enforcing the load restrictions ó maximum 10 tonnes for all vehicle types ó or exceptions to those restrictions also falls to the municipality."
Although a mutual aid agreement remains in place between the Sundre Fire Department and the Clearwater Regional Fire and Rescue Services, a recent decision by Clearwater County council to no longer have Sundre's department automatically dispatched in the southern part of the county was partly influenced by the bridge's weight restriction, which means Sundre's heavy units must use Highway 22 to reach the James River area.
However, Sundre's department only has one apparatus that weighs more than 10 tonnes, and that unit is never taken down James River Road regardless, said Kevin Gamble, Sundre's deputy fire chief.
"Just the small trucks go that way," he said, adding the far superior road conditions along Highway 22 allow for a much smoother, safer and speedier response.
"It's a better road ó traffic has room to move over."
