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Frozen road declaration

The frozen road period began in zone 1 on Thursday, January 19 at 12:01 a.m. Conditions in zones 2, 3, 4, and 5 do not meet criteria for frozen roads at this time. Declarations for any additional zones are dependent on conditions for each zone.

The frozen road declaration is normally in effect from mid December to late February or early March. Eligibility for increased weight limitations is restricted to vehicles hauling abrasives or salt for highway winter maintenance and peeled or unpeeled forest products cut crosswise not to include woodchips. For legally licensed vehicles hauling these loads, no special permit is required during this period. Legally licensed means currently registered for 80,000 pounds, or the maximum gross vehicle weight, if less than 80,000 pounds.

Local county or township road maintenance authorities are responsible for determining when local and county roads are frozen or thawing. Questions related to frozen road conditions on local or county roads should be referred to the maintaining authority for those roads.

Map - Seasonal load limits boundaries (500 KB) (Updated January 17, 2012)

Frozen road declaration (Updated January 17, 2012)

History (Updated January 17, 2012)

Frozen Road Guideline (Updated January 17, 2012)

Frozen road maximum axle weight limitations (Updated March 10, 2004)

Important things to know with respect to permits involving 98,000 pounds on 6-axles:

• The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) is the only agency that may issue a “Raw Forest Products Permit (RS Permit) per Wis Statute 348.27(9m)(a)4.
• The RS Permit authorizes transport of “raw forest products” at gvw of 98,000 lbs on vehicles or vehicle combinations with six or more axles none of which may exceed the axle weights set in the statute.
• During the spring thaw period established by WisDOT highway maintenance engineers, the RS Permit is suspended on local roads, but the permit authorizes transport on the State Trunk Highway System and connecting highways as defined in state law. The authorized routes include numbered State and US routes except any Interstate route and any route marked as a “Business Route.”** All “connecting highways” are marked as State or US routes.
  • Vehicles and vehicle combinations operating with the RS Permit may transport over “Class II” highways, but may not exceed posted limits for bridges or culverts.
• Local maintenance officials wishing to allow operation of vehicles hauling “raw forest products” on roadway within their jurisdiction may issue a “General Permit” per s.348.27(3). When operating under this permission, the permit must be carried on the vehicle, per s.348.28.

**The sole exception is the highway signed as Business 51 between exit 171 and Grand Avenue in Rothschild because this roadway is still State maintained.

Detailed Explanation of Statute 348.27(9m)(a) 4.

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Questions about weight restriction program and the content of this page:
Mike Sproul, Michael.Sproul@dot.wi.gov
Questions about overweight/oversize permits:
Motor carrier services, oversize-permits.dmv@dot.state.wi.us, (608) 266-7320
Last modified: January 31, 2012