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Weight restriction programs

The first partial lifting of seasonal restrictions will allow single trip overweight permits and non-divisible load multiple trip permits, such as the permit for transportation of construction equipment, to operate on all state, US and Interstate highways, on or south of US Highway 10 as of 12:01 a.m. Tuesday, April 28, 2009. 

Divisible overweight multiple trip permits, such as the permits for forest products and garbage or recyclable scrap, remain in suspension. 

On Monday, May 4, 2009 at 12:01 a.m., single trip permits, non-divisible load multiple trip permits and divisible load multiple trip permits, such as the permits to transport forest products, vegetables, garbage and recyclable scrap are valid on state, US and Interstate highways on and south of US Highway 8. 

On Monday, May 11, 2009 at 12:01 a.m. all types of permits are valid on state, US, Interstate highway to the extent not otherwise restricted by law, e.g. no divisible load permits may operate on I-94. 

Introduction

During the period from December 1st to May 1st of every year, state highways in Wisconsin must withstand an extreme range of moisture and temperature conditions from -30 F. to +70 F. These varying conditions affect the structural strength of the pavements and the base materials under the roadway.

There are three distinct programs that take advantage of the frozen pavement and sub-base conditions during the winter months and that also protect pavement's weak conditions during the springtime freezing and thawing period. How do we determine when it's frozen or thawing?

These three programs include:

1. The Frozen road declaration that is normally in effect from mid-December to late February or early March).
2. The Class II roads (typically lasts from early March until the first or second week in May). 
3. The Springtime posted roads program (normally from the second week in March until Late April or early May). 

All three of these programs apply only to the state highway system. Local county or township road maintenance authorities are responsible for determining when their roads are either frozen or thawing and whether sections should be posted for weight limitations. Questions related to weight restrictions on local or county roads should be referred to the maintaining authority for those roads. Regional Transportation offices can be contacted to answer specific questions related to the state highway system in their region.

Call (608) 266-8417 for a recorded message of the current status of the class II roads weight restrictions.

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Questions about weight restriction program or contents of this page:
Mike Sproul, michael.sproul@dot.state.wi.us
Questions about overweight/oversize permits:
Motor carrier services, oversize-permits.dmv@dot.state.wi.us, (608) 266-7320 
Last modified: November 3, 2009