The Michigan Department of Transportation has announced it will be lifting spring weight restrictions for parts of Michigan starting Monday, March 30.

Effective at 6 a.m. Monday, weight restrictions will be lifted on all state trunkline highways from the southern Michigan border north to and including US-10 in Ludington, Mason County, at the M-116 intersection, then east to US-127 in Clare County, south to US-10 in Clare County, east on US-10 to M-25 in Bay City, Bay County, and including the entire Thumb area.

Frost restrictions remain in effect for the remainder of the state and will be imposed and enforced on all state trunkline highways north of the US-10/M-25 line, including the entire Upper Peninsula and Mackinac Island.

In the restricted areas, the following will apply:

• On routes designated as “all-season” (designated in green and gold on the MDOT Truck Operators Map), there will be no reduction in legal axle weights.
• All extended permits will be valid for oversize loads in the weight-restricted area on the restricted routes. Single-trip permits will not be issued for any overweight loads or loads exceeding 14 feet in width, 11 axles and 150 feet in overall length on the restricted routes.
• On routes designated as “seasonal” (designated in solid or dashed red on the MDOT Truck Operators Map), there will be a posted weight reduction of 25% for rigid (concrete) pavements and 35% for flexible (asphalt) pavements, and a maximum speed of 35 mph for some vehicles.

“MDOT determines when weight restrictions begin each spring by measuring frost depths along state highways, observing road conditions and monitoring weather forecasts,” MDOT said in a release. “Weight restrictions remain in effect until the frost line is deep enough to allow moisture to escape and the roadbeds regain stability.”

For weight restriction information and updates, call 800-787-8960 or access this information on MDOT’s website at Michigan.gov/Truckers under “Restrictions.”

_{Release information and map image courtesy of MDOT.}