With the extended stretch of unusually warm temperatures in recent days, spring weight load restrictions are likely to be put into place early again this year.
Typically, these restrictions don’t take effect until the middle of March, but the last two winters have seen the restrictions placed earlier than normal, starting on February 26th in 2024 and March 3rd in 2025.
The purpose of the restrictions is to protect the bituminous road surfaces from damage and deterioration when they are at their most vulnerable – as frost comes out of the ground and the gravel underneath the bituminous has a high moisture content.
For those preparing for spring projects that require heavy equipment or even looking to have a septic tank emptied, the spring load limits will prohibit the largest of vehicles from accessing some roads, most of them county roads in townships, during the six to eight weeks they are in place.
Wright County historically mirrors the Minnesota Department of Transportation, and follows suit with other counties when MnDOT announces the date for weight restrictions on state roads.
The load limit dates for 2026 have not yet been announced, and there is typically a three-to-four-day advance notification when the load limits go in place. The Wright County Highway Department however, has released a map of the 2026 restrictions for highways and county roads when they do go into effect.
When the date for the start of the restrictions is announced, Wright County will post them on its website, Facebook and X.
For more information, click here.
(content: in part, courtesy Wright County)
