EAST LANSING, Mich. — Seasonal weight limits for vehicles will go into effect Tuesday, Feb. 17, for City of East Lansing roads in Ingham County.
The restrictions are an annual move made to help protect roads. As winter ends and roads begin to thaw, melting snow and ice saturate the softened ground. During the spring thaw, the roadbed softened by trapped moisture beneath the pavement makes it more susceptible to damage. This contributes to pothole problems already occurring due to freeze-thaw cycles.
The Michigan Department of Transportation determines when weight restrictions begin each spring by measuring frost depths along state highways, observing road conditions and monitoring weather forecasts. Weight restrictions remain in effect until the frost line is deep enough to allow moisture to escape and roadbeds regain stability…