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County sets weight limit on 2 highways
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By ELISA SAND, Staff Reporter
| 11/21/2012 |
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Two county highways now have restricted weight limits of 80,000 pounds.
Lake County Commissioners passed a resolution on Tuesday that sets an 80,000-lb. gross weight limit for traffic on Co. Rds. 51 and 53 in the Oldham-Ramona area.
The weight restrictions were put in place as a way to restrict heavy truck traffic heading south from Oldham. County Commissioner Roger Hageman cited concerns about an increase in truck traffic two weeks ago, indicating that continued truck traffic would degrade the surface of the county's roads faster.
Of primary concern is the traffic that includes trucks with pup trailers, a scenario that puts additional stress on the surface of the road.
Hageman said that placing an 80,000-lb. gross weight limit would still allow trucks hauling grain. In comparison to other counties, Hageman said that Miner County has an 80,000-lb. gross weight limit on some county highways and McCook County has an 80,000-lb. gross weight limit in place. Kingsbury County officials had expressed the possibility of imposing a limit if Lake County passed its resolution.
Lake County Highway Superintendent Scott Mathison said there is an east-west stretch between Co. Rds. 51 and 53 that's not included in this weight restriction, but Hageman said the traffic on that county road will go down with reductions on the other two county highways.
Hageman said one contractor did ask if the gross weight limit could be set at 90,000 pounds to allow for gravel trucks, but Hageman said a weight limit higher than 80,000 pounds would not be enforced by the state.
"The state wants it set at 80,000 pounds," he said.
Mathison said those wishing to haul a heavier load on those county highways can obtain special permission from his office.
"We give a permit to haul over the limit," he said.
The new weight limits will go into effect 20 days after publication.
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©Madison Daily Leader 2013
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