Wisconsin Frozen Road Law Expands South
Saturday, January 26th, 2019 -- 8:39 AM
(Wisconsin Ag Connection) -Effective Saturday, Wisconsin's frozen road law will expand to include regions designated by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation as Zone 3 and 4. It means that certain regulations will apply to most of the state except for Zone 5 in southeast Wisconsin.The frozen road law allows heavier loads for trucks carrying peeled or unpeeled forest products cut crosswise, and salt and sand for winter maintenance for a period of time determined by weather conditions. WisDOT and county highway personnel monitor temperature forecasts, along with frost tubes to help determine when roads are adequately frozen to accommodate heavier loads. The declaration is issued once the ground under highway pavement is frozen to a depth of at least 18-inches, allowing the maximum gross weight for trucks hauling logs or salt and sand for maintaining roads in winter to go up to 98,000 pounds on vehicles with a minimum of five axles from the normal 80,000 pounds.
Effective January 26, special permits for hauling the increased weights are not required in Zones 1, 2, 3 and 4, however, vehicles must be legally licensed at 80,000 pounds to handle the increased weights. The higher weight limits do not apply to county or local roads unless authorized by the local agency having maintenance authority.
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