Seasonal Road Restrictions Go Into Effect in the Region
Across the northern tier of counties in Wisconsin and throughout the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, county road commissions are imposing and enforcing seasonal load (and in some cases, speed) restrictions beginning this week. Normally instituted around the second week of March, and normally lasting around two months, load weight restrictions are so far declared for the following counties: Delta, Douglas, Ashland, Bayfield, Gogebic, Iron (MI) and Iron (WI), Ontonagon, Sawyer, and Price. Other counties are expected to follow soon with similar announcements.
Weight loads are reduced to levels determined independently by each county, but many restrict loads to about 65% of normal; restrict the gross weight; or restrict the weight per axel during this time frame. Load reductions at this time of year are necessary to protect the public's investment in the road systems during the frost release from the warming ground--that time when road bases are soft and particularly vulnerable to permanent damage.