Spring Load Restrictions
Road restriction maps
Road Restriction maps indicating the locations of weight-restricted routes and those state highways open to maximum ten-ton axle weights are listed at the Mn/DOT Seasonal Load Limits website. (Click on "Seasonal Load Limits," then click on "Spring Load Restrictions.") Also available are a text list of the restricted segments along with exceptions to the map.
Winter Load Increase period
Minnesota State law allows a 10% weight increase on all public highways during the Winter Load Increase period. A Winter Weight Increase permit is required to take advantage of the 10% weight increase on Interstate routes.
Vehicles with the proper permits will be allowed to operate at 10 percent over the standard maximum load on both 10-ton and 9-ton routes during the Winter Load Increase period.
When do restrictions begin and end?
For both Winter Load Increases and the Spring Load Restrictions, starting dates and ending dates are based on how weather is affecting roadway strength. These dates are established by monitoring roadway strength as weather conditions change. Therefore, the ending dates for Winter Load Increases and the starting dates for Spring Load Restrictions are variable and drivers MUST check for updates throughout the spring. Vehicle operators are required to check with the Minnesota Department of Transportation (Mn/DOT) for the exact start and end dates.
Note that the ending date of the Winter Load Increases is not directly tied to the start of Spring Load Restrictions, although they could be the same date. All changes are made with a minimum three-day notice.
As soon as a date is set, Mn/DOT will publish this date on its 24-hour automated message at 1-800-723-6543 or 651-747-2253. This information is also published on the Mn/DOT Seasonal Load Limits web site.
Contacts
- City Engineer
952-548-6356 - Mn/DOT information line
1-800-723-6543
651-366-5400
Questions about roads outside of Hopkins?
For questions about legal weight/size trucking call:
- Minnesota Department of Public Safety
State Patrol - Commercial Vehicle Enforcement
651-405-6196
For questions about over legal weight/size "heavy haul" trucking call:
- Minnesota Department of Transportation
Freight and Commercial Vehicle Operations - Oversize/Weight Permits
651-296-6000
