For more information, contact:
Michael Sproul, Bureau of Highway Operations
(608) 266-8680, michael.sproul@dot.wi.gov
Law affects log haulers and transporters of salt or abrasives for roads
Wisconsin’s frozen road law goes into effect in central and southwestern Wisconsin on Wednesday, January 6 at 12:01 a.m. in a region designated by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) as Zones 3 and 4 – roughly between US 10 and WIS 33 in central Wisconsin between Lake Michigan and the Mississippi River and west of WIS 78 in southwestern Wisconsin. The declaration for Zones 1 and 2 went into effect on December 20. The frozen road declaration for zone 5 in the southeastern portion of the state goes into effect on Thursday, January 7 at 12:01 a.m. A map of affected highways in each of the 5 zones is available at the WisDOT Web site.
The frozen road law, which permits trucks carrying peeled or unpeeled forest products cut crosswise, not including woodchips, or salt and sand for winter maintenance to carry heavier loads, will be in effect on all state and U.S.-marked highways until approximately early March, unless thawing necessitates an earlier cancellation of the provision or continued cold weather allows for an extension of the declaration period.
The declaration applies only to those roads marked with state or U.S. numbers, but does not include the Interstate highway system, with the exception of I-39 from Portage to Wausau.
Special permits for hauling the increased weights are not required. However, the vehicles must be legally licensed to handle the increased weights.
The higher weight limits are not in effect on county or local roads unless authorized by the local agency having maintenance authority. The higher weights may not be transported on any highways or bridges that are posted for lower limits.
Further information on the frozen road declaration is available on the Wisconsin Department of Transportation’s Web site or by contacting the Bureau of Highway Operations, 4802 Sheboygan Avenue, P.O. Box 7986, Madison, Wisconsin, 53707-7986, or by calling (608) 266-3745.
