Frozen road declaration goes into effect December 24

December 20, 2007

Law affects log haulers and transporters of salt or abrasives for roads 

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation has announced that Wisconsin's frozen road declaration will go into effect statewide on Monday, December 24. The frozen road declaration, which permits trucks carrying logs or salt and sand for winter maintenance to carry heavier loads, will likely be in effect on all state and U.S.-marked highways, and a section of I-39. The conditions typically allow this declaration to remain in place through February, unless thawing necessitates an earlier cancellation of the provision or continued cold weather allows for an extension of the declaration period.

The declaration is issued once the ground under the pavement is frozen to a significant depth. That allows the maximum gross weight for trucks hauling logs or salt and sand for maintaining roads in winter to go up to 98,000 pounds.

The declaration applies only to those roads marked with state or U.S. numbers, but does not include the Interstate highway system, with the exception of I-39 from Portage to Wausau.

Special permits for hauling the increased weights are not required. However, the vehicles must be legally licensed to handle the increased weights.

The higher weight limits are not in effect on county or local roads unless authorized by the local agency having maintenance authority. The higher weights may not be transported on any highways or bridges that are posted for lower limits.

Further information on the Frozen Road declaration, including specific provisions for axle weights and spacing, is available on the Wisconsin Department of Transportation's Web site or by contacting the Bureau of Highway Operations, 4802 Sheboygan Avenue, P.O. Box 7986, Madison, Wisconsin, 53707-7986, or by calling (608) 266-8417.

For more information, contact:
David Vieth
(608) 267-8999