Keweenaw Report Your Source for Local News and Sports
The following press release was issued by the County Road Association of Michigan:
County road agencies, county commissions, townships strongly oppose permit-free log hauling on Michigan roads in spring
Lansing, MI – A bill now pending before a Michigan House committee would eliminate the permit requirement restricting weight on county roads for logging trucks and equipment during the frost break-up each spring.
The bill, sponsored by former log hauler Sen. Tom Casperson (R-Delta), has drawn heavy opposition from over 240 county road agencies, county commissions, municipalities, townships and one snowmobile club because of its ramifications for the crumbling local road system.
Despite Michigan’s load limits being the most generous among 11 states in the Midwest – even during the seasonal weight restriction period – the logging industry seeks exemption from the permit process and equipment being trailered on county roads during all times of the year.
Michigan currently allows gross vehicle weight limits of 164,000 – the heaviest in the nation – on its roads. Even with Michigan’s seasonal weight restrictions – when load weights must be reduced by 35 percent to protect the fragile local road network during early spring thaw – vehicles in excess of 100,000 pounds are still legally allowed on Michigan’s roads. Ten states in the Midwest have legal load limits between 80,000 and 100,000 pounds at all times.
CLICK HERE TO VIEW A CHART ON WEIGHT RESTRICTIONS IN THE MIDWEST
“We appreciate the logging industry, yet Michigan already has very generous load-hauling weight limits that allow the industry to be very competitive. Considering local road agency options and best practices, weather permitting, what problem exactly is SB 396 trying to solve?” said Ed Noyola, deputy director of the County Road Association of Michigan (CRA).
“Pulling a minimal-cost permit and submitting to engineering principles is a small price to pay by any industry to be a partner in protecting Michigan roads,” Noyola said.
“This bill would put decisions about whether a road can tolerate a 164,000-pound logging truck in the hands of the truck owner/driver – sidestepping the county road agency which has responsibility for road integrity and fiscal liability for the road,” said Denise Donohue, CRA director.
“SB 396 allows loggers to run their harvesting equipment – not road-worthy motor vehicles – directly on frost-weakened unpaved roads for up to 20 miles rather than trailering the equipment. This could be unsafe and very damaging to the road,” Noyola said. “The county road agency and its engineering specialist need permit control over road decisions.”
The 83 members of the County Road Association represent the unified voice for a safe and efficient county transportation system in Michigan, including appropriate stewardship of the public’s right-of-way in rural and urban Michigan. Collectively, Michigan’s county road agencies manage 75 percent on all roads in the state, including 90,000 miles and 5,700 bridges. Michigan has the nation’s fourth-largest local road system.
