Kazakhstan's national road company KazAvtoZhol has reminded drivers of seasonal restrictions for heavy vehicles during the summer. According to the company's press service, temporary measures apply on public roads of national significance and cover vehicles with a single-axle load exceeding 8 tons when the air temperature rises above 25°C during specified hours, reports infohub.kz.
"The restrictions apply to vehicles with a single-axle load exceeding 8 tons and are enforced only when the temperature is above 25°C during region-specific hours. Therefore, this is not a full ban on truck traffic but a seasonal regulation of heavy vehicle movement," the company said.
The measure aims to preserve road surfaces during high temperatures. In hot conditions, asphalt concrete heats up and becomes more susceptible to loads, potentially leading to rutting, bulging, and other premature deformations.
Until August 15, from 11:00 to 21:00, when temperatures exceed 25°C, restrictions apply in the Abai, Akmola, Aktobe, East Kazakhstan, West Kazakhstan, Karaganda, Kostanay, Pavlodar, and North Kazakhstan regions. Until August 31, from 10:00 to 22:00 under the same temperature conditions, restrictions are in effect in Almaty, Atyrau, Zhambyl, Kyzylorda, Mangystau, Turkistan, as well as Jetisu and Ulytau regions.
Outside these hours and when temperatures are 25°C or lower, traffic proceeds normally as long as permissible weight and size parameters are observed. Special conditions apply on a section of the A-1 highway from Astana to Petropavlovsk via Kokshetau, from km 68 to km 196, which has stone mastic asphalt concrete pavement: when temperatures exceed 25°C, vehicles with axle loads over 9 tons are restricted.
Regulatory requirements also set limits for tandem, tridem, and other axle groups. The permissible total weight of a vehicle during seasonal restrictions is reduced by 20% from standard parameters. Summer restrictions do not apply to vehicles engaged in international transport, emergency response, carrying perishable goods, passengers, dangerous goods, involved in road construction works on sections under reconstruction, belonging to the Armed Forces, carrying out military transport, or delivering humanitarian aid.