WEIGHT RESTRICTIONS TO BE IMPOSED ON TRUCKS TO PRESERVE ROADS

Frozen road declaration ending as spring thaw restrictions implemented

As mild winter weather continues throughout the state, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation has declared that the previous "frozen road" declaration will be suspended and spring thaw requirements will be in place statewide effective at 12:01 a.m. on Monday, February 25, 2002.

Roads were declared frozen statewide on January 7, allowing trucks hauling logs, salt or sand to carry heavier loads Wisconsin DOT will suspend the frozen road declaration statewide on February 25 on highways with state or U.S. designations.

Normally, the maximum gross weight for trucks is 80,000 pounds on highways with state or U.S. designations in Wisconsin. When the frozen road declaration was in effect, logging trucks and vehicles hauling salt and sand for winter maintenance can have a gross vehicle weight up to 98,000 pounds.

The transition period when roadbeds change from a frozen condition until the time when subgrades under the roadway dry out and firm up is when heavy loads pose the greatest threat to highways. The spring thaw weight restrictions means divisible load permits, such as for pulpwood hauling or garbage transport, are suspended on all state highways. Uses of other state-issued single trip permits are restricted on some state highway sections.

In addition, some sections of state highways are also posted for less than the legal weight limit during this period.

Local county highways and city and village streets may also be posted or limited to legal load limits. Decisions to place or lift weight restrictions on those roads are up to local units of government.

A map depicting where and when the frozen road and spring thaw declarations are effective and where state highways are posted is available on the Wisconsin Department of Transportation's Web site at: www.dot.state.wi.us/dmv/seasonal.html or www.dot.state.wi.us/dtid/bho/weight_rest_prog.html.