Department of Infrastructure
DOI
Northwest Territories • Canada
The Northwest Territories Department of Infrastructure manages approximately 2,200 kilometers of all-season roads and operates over 1,400 kilometers of winter roads — including seasonal ice roads — that are the lifelines for remote communities in Canada's north. The primary all-season freight corridor is Highway 1 (the Mackenzie Highway) and Highway 3 connecting Yellowknife to southern Canada. Ice roads, particularly the iconic Tibbitt to Contwoyto Winter Road, are critical for supplying diamond mines and northern communities. The department administers commercial vehicle regulations, manages critical river ferry crossings during open water season, and coordinates with airlines for intermodal freight in areas inaccessible by road year-round.
| Official Website | https://www.inf.gov.nt.ca/ |
|---|---|
| Data API | https://www.dot.gov.nt.ca/Highways/Highway-Conditions |
| Founded | 1967 |
| Headquarters | Yellowknife |
Available Data
Social Media
- @GNWT_INF — GNWT/GTNO Infrastructure
Northwest Territories Trucking Regulations
Size & weight limits, OS/OW permits, and seasonal restrictions for commercial vehicles
Weight Limits
| Category | Limit |
|---|---|
| Max Gross Vehicle Weight | 63500 kg |
| Single Axle | 9100 kg |
| Tandem Axle | 18000 kg |
Dimensional Limits
| Category | Limit |
|---|---|
| Max Height | 4.3 m |
| Max Width | 2.6 m |
| Max Length (Single Unit) | 12.5 m |
| Max Length (Combination) | 25 m |
OS/OW Permits
Seasonal Restrictions Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun
Seasonal ice roads (winter roads) operate from approximately January through March, enabling diamond mine supply chains with loads far exceeding normal limits. Spring breakup (April–June) causes road closures on territorial highways. The Mackenzie Valley Highway system has strict spring weight restrictions.
10.7¢/L
Member
Special Exemptions
Notable Rules
The NT highway network is largely unpaved and many communities are only accessible by ice road in winter or by air/barge in summer. The Dempster Highway (Hwy 8) is a major unpaved corridor connecting Inuvik to the Yukon, subject to severe spring conditions. Winter ice roads to diamond mines (Diavik, Ekati) support loads far exceeding summer limits — controlled by NT DOI under specific seasonal permits.