ST. PAUL, Minn. — Allowable winter load limits on highways in the central frost zone will increase up to 10 percent at 12:01 a.m., Saturday, Dec.11, according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation.
The central frost zone’s boundaries extend south from the southern limit of the north-central frost zone (Highway 10, Highway 210, Highway 18, Interstate 35, Highway 48 and the Wisconsin state line) to a line following and including Highway 12 from the South Dakota state line to the Hennepin County line.
Winter truck weight load increases were previously announced on highways in the north frost zone beginning Monday, Dec. 6, and in the north-central frost zone beginning Wednesday, Dec. 8.
Vehicles will be allowed to carry up to 10 percent more weight than the standard legal maximum loads on unrestricted highways during the winter load increase period. However, trucks must comply with current registration weight laws and not exceed registered gross weight limits.
Mn/DOT advises that haulers check with local agencies (cities, counties and townships) prior to increasing any weights on their routes. Signs erected on the roadway govern the load limit in effect.
A winter weight increase permit is required to take advantage of the 10 percent weight increase on interstate highways.
For information about legal weight/size trucking, call the Minnesota Department of Public Safety at 651-405-6171 (select Option 3, Option 3). For information about over legal weight/size heavy haul trucking, call Mn/DOT at 651-296-6000.
Load increases are permitted because pavements achieve increased strength to carry heavier loads when their sub-grades freeze.
Mn/DOT continues to monitor the other frost zones to determine when it can allow additional weight increases in those areas.
For the most current information, call Mn/DOT’s automated 24-hour message center at 800-723-6543 for the U. S. and Canada or 651-366-5400 in the Twin Cities metro area. For more information on Mn/DOT’s seasonal load limits, visit http://www.mrr.dot.state.mn.us/research/seasonal_load_limits/sllindex.asp.
