Bridge tolls and commercial truck permit fees at the Deh Cho Bridge will continue to be waived to the end of October but will resume starting on Nov. 1, according to a news release issued by the Government of the Northwest Territories, Monday.
Last March, the territorial government waived Deh Cho Bridge tolls, truck permits and airport landing fees as part of an economic relief package in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The GNWT's Department of Infrastructure release states that the extra month of waived fees will include purchased and remitted Deh Cho bridge tolls, fees for over-dimension permits (single and annual), overweight permits and special permits for large trucks.
"Drivers will notice a 1.6 per cent increase to the Deh Cho Bridge tolls compared to the rates that were in effected prior to April 1, 2020," states the release. "This increase, which occurs annually in accordance with the NWT Consumer Price Index, came into effect on April 1, 2020. However, due to the evolving Covid-19 situation, all toll rates and noted permit fees were waived from March 2020."
The release adds that the bridge tolls only apply to "northbound commercial traffic" that weigh more than 4,500 kilograms. On-road patrols and electronic toll monitoring system with cameras taking photos of all-bridge traffic will be active to ensure compliance, states the release.
Airport fees like aircraft landing fees, lease fees and license fees for NWT businesses will be waived on Dec. 31.