The driver of a grain truck got a surprise last month when his truck broke through the town roadway near Westlock Terminals.
The truck broke through the roadway near the terminals on June 26, but employees were able to unload the grain and get the truck out.
“A truck was driving down Whissellville Road, that’s 108 St., and while it was driving on the pavement, it hit a weak spot in the road and the back axles broke through,” general manager Clifford Bell said.
He said to his knowledge this has never happened before near the terminals.
Town manager Darrell Garceau was away from the office last week, but said in an e-mail there was a combination of factors that led to the failure.
“The sub grade of the road has obviously deteriorated over time and the weight of the truck and the failure of the asphalt caused the section to fail,” he said. “This roadway is very busy and the size and weights of the commercial vehicles has increased significantly over the past six years.”
Plant operator Mark Desranleau, who was working at the time, said the truck was carrying a standard weight and he didn’t know of anything like this happening in the recent or even distant past.
He added he was happy with both the company’s and the town’s response to the incident, and said they were able to get the truck out with the help of some equipment from a local dealership.
“We got a tractor and a bobcat there to empty the grain out,” he said. “Then there was something to lift the truck out, and it was all from Deerline.”
The town filled in the hole with gravel and barricaded the area off.
Garceau said a roadway reconstruction design has been done for that particular area, but with a cost of just under $2 million, it’s prohibitive at this time. “We will repair the damaged areas as they appear to ensure that traffic can safely drive the area.”
Garceau added the town is aware of some catch basins in town that need to be addressed due to the erosion to the sub grade from storm water runoff.
