THUNDER BAY -- City administration will bring its transport route bylaw back to city council on Monday without significant changes.
"This bylaw is a little stronger in the wording for transport trucks that are deviating off a designated route, making a delivery or getting to a specific property," said city traffic technologist Ryan Love.
"It makes it more clear trucks are required to stay on a specified route or a provincial highway. It was always enforceable but it was recommended to us it wasn't as clear as it could be."
There has been no change to the routes from the plan that appeared before council on Mar. 27, despite protests from Current River's Hodder Avenue residents.
Business interests also raised concerns over restrictions on traffic along the Arthur Street West corridor and Dawson Road.
Love said administration conducted further consultations and when balanced against traffic studies, the city saw no need to alter the routes for its first-ever transport route restrictions.
"The general public might not notice a difference but it will make some of our corridors safer for a number of rural road users, cyclists, pedestrians, the average motorist. Some of the corridors could have a bigger impact on truck traffic in that there won't be any or (it) will reduce significantly," Love said.
"When it comes to contractors using random routes throughout the city or trucks using random routes, that's what we're trying to eliminate. We're also trying to make our roads safer, keep our roads safe and prevent damage to our roads."
Council tasked administration with developing the bylaw in December 2015.
