Seasonal Weight Restrictions Go Into Effect for Some West Michigan Counties

As the weather begins to grow warmer, the risk of potholes becomes evident. Living in Michigan, we know that the potholes worsen in the wintertime, but unless you’re a part of the trucking industry, you may not know that it’s actually the thaw from winter into spring that creates the biggest pothole concern. 

And with pothole season coming in hot, some West Michigan counties have begun to enforce weight restrictions to better protect our roadways. Calhoun, Barry, Branch, Ionia, Kalamazoo, Kent, and Ottawa counties are all enforcing this seasonal weight restriction beginning March 1. Allegan and Berrien counties are scheduled to follow on Friday, March 4. 

These weight restrictions only apply to multiple-axle vehicles to help reduce the weight of normal legal loads but also reduce the speed for certain vehicles.

On routes designated as “All Season Routes” (green or gold on the MDOT Truck Operators Map) there will be no reduction in legal axle weight.

But on routes designated as “Seasonal” (solid or dashed red on the MDOT Truck Operators Map)