Wisconsin's frozen road declaration expanded to include regions designated by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation as Zone 2. As a result, the frozen road law will apply to roughly the northern half of Wisconsin.
The frozen road determination for the southern portion of the state will be made once conditions warrant.
The designation allows heavier loads for trucks carrying logs cut crosswise, not including woodchips, and salt and sand for winter maintenance while cold weather allows. It's issued once the ground under highway pavement is frozen to a depth of at least 18 inches, allowing the maximum gross weight for trucks hauling logs or salt and sand for maintaining roads in winter to go up to 98,000 pounds on vehicles with a minimum of five axles, from the normal 80,000 pounds.
Special permits for hauling the increased weights are not required in the declared zones, but vehicles must be legally licensed at 80,000 pounds to handle the increased weights.
The higher weight limits do not apply to county or local roads unless authorized by the local agency having maintenance authority.
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