Starting Thursday, Wisconsin’s frozen road rules will apply to the whole state. The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) is reminding drivers of what this means.
In December, WisDOT said that frozen road rules would start in northern Wisconsin. On January 16, the laws will apply to the whole state.
When roads are frozen, trucks carrying cross-cut logs, wood chips, and salt and sand for winter maintenance can take heavier loads as long as the weather stays cold. Officials in Wisconsin say that the seasonal weight limit program is one way to protect the money the state has spent on roads.
There is a live map for seasonal weight limits that can be seen here. The map shows frozen road edges, Class II roads, and posted roads.
WisDOT and county highway workers use frost tubes, which are liquid-filled devices buried in the pavement, and look at temperature forecasts to figure out when the roads are sufficiently frozen. This is done when the ground under the road pavement is frozen to at least 18 inches.
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