(KNSI) – The Stearns County Highway Department says spring load restrictions will come off on Wednesday, May 17th, at midnight.
The timeline is for the entire Central region, which includes Benton, Morrison, and Stearns Counties. Sherburne and Wright Counties are part of the Metro region, which means they have already switched to summer rules. That process began on April 24th, almost four weeks earlier than their neighboring counties.
Weight restrictions for commercial trucks are put in place while the ground thaws. As it unfreezes, the soil underneath the pavement becomes unstable and heavy vehicles can cause damage to the road. May 17th represents the latest end to spring load restrictions since at least 2015, according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation. The agency uses a mathematical formula to calculate the cumulative thawing index, which dictates when the changeover is made.
The weight curbs are designed to prolong the useful life of roads by reducing stress.
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