With Spring, comes moving water. And when groundwater starts to move underneath the surface, it can mean road surface problems, made worse by overloaded vehicle loads.

Starting Wednesday, March 16, Chip pewa County will begin enforcing seasonal road weight limits, with enforcement along County Highways X, G, O, MM, D, V, and S. The temporary road ban affects loads of six tons on any one axle and 10 tons on any tandem axle less than 8 feet apart. Not following the limits, can have road and other consequences.

“Last year we had seven miles of road fail up by Bloomer,” County Highway Commissioner Brian Kelley said of

Among those showing up to the enforcement demonstration last week on road weight limits were State Patrol Lieutenant Timothy Weiberg (left), Chippewa County Sheriff Jim Kowalczyk, and Highway Commissioner Brian Kelley. Photo by Joseph Back.

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a stretch of County F up by Bloomer. Not in the budget, the repairs had cost $1.6 million in county reserves.

“This is a critical period of time for the county highways,” Kelley said of the spring thaw. “As the road subsurface thaws, it becomes soft and is not able to bear the same amount of weight as in normal conditions. The County’s paving schedule does not account for unforeseen damages like what happened last spring on County F, so we must do what it takes to keep illegal overweight loads off of the highways.” But in case you say ‘who’s going to catch me,’ know this: there is enforcement.

With eight deputies in Chippewa County having gone through road weight limit enforcement training for the spring prevention, the County has 11 certified scales in daytime and weigh stations to use at night, with scales also provided through the Wisconsin State Patrol. Those over the posted weight limit on affected roads, might not like the consequences.

Pending the spring thaw, the restrictions to begin March 16 will be in effect for at least six weeks, though no limit is fixed on duration- that’s nature’s decision. For a full list of posted and unposted roads to be affected, see below: County Trunk Highways in these areas that will not be posted are: • CTH SS Bloomer to New Auburn

• CTH X

• CTH D Boyd to CTH X

• All Chippewa County Highways located within the limits of incorporated cities & villages.

In addition to the above areas, the following County Trunk Highways will also be posted: • CTH J – STH 29 to CTH K

•CTHOO – CTHPtoCTHK • CTH TT – CTH K to STH 27

•CTHP – EauClaireCountyLineto CTH OO

•CTHUN – Eau Claire County Line to CTH P • CTH K – CTH S to STH 27 • CTH R – STH 64 to STH 178

•CTHXX – EauClaireCountyLineto CTH O • CTH MM – CTH X to Clark County Line • CTH ZZ – STH 64 to STH 178 • CTH M – Dunn County Line to CTH X

•CTHN – DunnCountyLinetoCTHT

•CTHA – DunnCountyLinetoCTH DD South • CTH DD – STH 40 to CTH M • CTH C – STH 40 to CTH Q

A close-up of one of the scales to be used in road weight limit enforcement. Photo by Joseph Back.