MDOT removes weight restrictions in Michigan’s Lower Peninsula

As of April 6, 2015, the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) has removed the weight restrictions on state trunkline highways.

The affected highways include I-69, from Lansing to Port Huron’s Blue Water Bridge, and I-96, from US-31 in Muskegon through I-69 in Lansing. These highways include routes that are designed with M, I or US symbols.

Alternatively, in the areas with continued weight restrictions, several standards still apply.

The legal axle weights of trucks will not be reduced on routes that are designated for all seasons. Also, seasonal routes will still have restrictions for 25 percent weight reductions on rigid pavements and 35 percent weight reductions for flexible pavements.

To determine whether routes are all-season, truckers can see these routes lit up gold and green on the online MDOT Truck Operators Map.

If truckers have extended permits for oversized loads to be transported within the weight-restricted areas on the routes with restrictions, those permits will still be considered valid. There will no longer be any single-trip permits available for loads that are overweight or exceed 14 feet in width. The overall requirements allowed on restricted routes are 11 axles and 150 feet.

More weight restriction information is available under the “Restrictions” tab on MDOT’s main website, located at www.michigan.gov/truckers. There is also additional information concerning updates on the website.