ST. PAUL, Minn. – Winter load increases will
end Thursday, March 14 and spring load restrictions will start Friday,
March 15 on highways in the south, southeast, metro and central frost
zones, according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation. The
frost zones can be found on the MnDOT load limits map.
Road restriction maps showing locations of weight-restricted routes are listed at mndot.gov/loadlimits. Click on Spring Load Restrictions and then any of the mapping options.
Overweight
permits for more than 80,000 pound gross vehicle weight will continue
and new permits will be issued if all axle and group weights are legal.
See axle weight limits.
Full-summer
overweight permits can be issued during the spring load restriction
period when engaging in interstate through movement travel only (no
starting or stopping off the interstate system).
Middle-range
overweight permits become available within each frost zone when spring
load restrictions are lifted. Full-summer overweight permits become
available two to three weeks after spring load restrictions are lifted.
Ending dates for spring load restrictions are variable and based on how weather is affecting roadway strength.
MnDOT
will report start and end dates on its 24-hour automated message center
at 1-800-723-6543 for the U.S. and Canada, and locally at 651-366-5400
for the Minneapolis/St. Paul area.
For
questions about legal axle weight during spring load restrictions or
the gross vehicle weight schedule, call the Minnesota Department of
Public Safety’s Commercial Vehicle Enforcement at 651-350-2000.
For
questions about oversize/overweight loads/permitting call MnDOT’s
Freight and Commercial Vehicle Operations – Oversize/Overweight Permits
at 651-296-6000 or email ofcvopermits.dot@state.mn.us
For updated road condition information, call 511 or visit www.511mn.org.
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