Road Weather Management Program
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Best Practices for Road Weather Management Version 2.0

Title:

Economic Effects of Lifting the Spring Load Restriction Policy in Minnesota

Abstract:

Spring load restrictions (SLR) regulate the weight per axle carried by heavy trucks during the spring thaw period. This policy aims to reduce pavement damage caused by heavy vehicles and extend the useful life of roads, but it also imposes costs on the trucking industry due to detouring or increased number of truckloads. Although the policies have been implemented for many years, their resulting economic effect has been unclear. The Minnesota Local Road Research Board (LRRB) and the Minnesota DOT sponsored a cost/benefit study of spring load restrictions in Minnesota. The study, based on the results of surveys of industry costs, a pavement performance model, and a freight demand model, concludes that the benefits of lifting the existing SLR policy outweigh the additional costs. Roadways operating at 5-tons require additional study; however, current analysis warrants repealing SLR and keeping roadways operating year-round at 9-tons. The cost of additional damage should be recovered from those who benefit from the change in policy.

Source(s):

85th Transportation Research Board (TRB) Annual Meeting; Kimley-Horn and Associates, Minnesota DOT and University of Minnesota

https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1089532

Date: 2006

Author:

Smalkoski, Li, Levinson

Keywords:


Subsurface conditions
Benefit/cost
Access control
Traffic control

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