Road weight restrictions begin around Stark County

DICKINSON - Warmer temperatures around the region mean Stark County officials must put up yearly weight restrictions on county roads.

Stark County Road Superintendent Al Heiser said the weight restrictions for all county roads south of Interstate 94 were put in place Thursday morning. He added roads north of I–94 will probably go up next week.

“We kind of follow suit with the State Highway Department. They have temperature gages, sensors in the asphalt,” Heiser said. “They can about tell when the pavement is at its most vulnerable for breaking and when it’s at its weakest point.”

The restrictions are to remain in place until the asphalt firms up. Heiser said the restrictions are usually removed in May.

“When the frost comes out of the ground, that’s when the pavement is at its most vulnerable,” Heiser said.

There are two different classes of weight restrictions on Stark County roads.

Class 1 allows 15,000-pound, single axle vehicles, 30,000-pound, tandem-axle vehicles and those with three or more axle groupings are allowed 12,000 pounds per axle, but can’t exceed 36,000 pounds of gross weight on divisible loads. The gross vehicle weight is set at 80,000 pounds.

Class 2 allows 12,000 pounds for a single axle, 24,000 pounds on a tandem axle and three or more axle groupings are allowed 10,000 pounds per axle not to exceed 30,000 pounds gross weight on divisible loads. The gross weight is set at 65,000 pounds.

Statewide highway load restrictions go into effect Tuesday, March 11.

The restrictions are to consist of all highways south of N.D. Highway 200. This includes Highway 200 to the South Dakota state line and from the Montana state line to N.D. Highway 3, although Highway 3 will not have load restrictions.

N.D. Highway 34 from Highway 3 to ND Highway 30 will also be restricted.

Roads that are not restricted in the area include N.D. Highway 200A from Washburn to the intersection of N.D. Highway 200, N.D. Highway 41 from the intersection of U.S. Highway 83 to Mercer and N.D. Highway 14 from Wing to the intersection of N.D. Highway 200.

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