The biggest transport trucks allowed in Ontario will soon be able to drive into London.
City hall believes big trucks will be a big advantage in attracting new jobs.
The longest trucks allowed in the province are long combination vehicles, or LCVs, which pull a pair of trailers.
"Economically, it makes a lot more sense to pull two trailers instead of one," says Gus Rahim of the Ontario Truck Driving School.
But they're so long that the province has restricted them to only a handful of highways and overpasses.
London's Civic Works Committee has heard details of a $30-million upgrade of the interchange at Veterans Memorial Parkway and Highway 401.
It would make the former Airport Road the only non-400 series highway west of Kitchener to accommodate the extra-long loads.
"There are only certain streets where they can use them, they can't really go in downtown areas or places with tight turns," adds Rahim.
The new accessibility would be an edge over neighbouring municipalities the London Economic Development Corporation (LEDC) expects to capitalize on it.
"I think as long combination vehicles become more common and used by more and more companies, it would be a real advantage for London," says Peter White, president of the LEDC.
The provincial plan will see eventually see three enhanced London interchanges with the 401 large enough to handle LCVs.
"With our ability to reach Sarnia and Windsor easily and look at how that kind of freight is logistically managed, this will be very important for London," adds White.
