Seasonal weight and speed restrictions on roads begin Monday.

Seasonal weight and speed restrictions on roads begin Monday.

HART – In an effort to protect the roads from damage by heavy trucks, the Oceana County Road Commission is imposing seasonal weight and speed restrictions on county roads beginning Monday, March 2, at 6 a.m.

The restrictions will be imposed on all roads except for those listed as “all-season.” Maps are available at the road commission office and on the OCRC website, oceanacrc.org.

“While roads are concrete and asphalt and look indestructible, they can actually be quite fragile in late winter as frost comes out of the ground,” states the Michigan County Road Association. “Even strong late-winter sunlight on the dark paved surface has a significant impact on a road.

“As frost melts beneath a paved road, the roadbed turns wet and spongy because water is trapped between the pavement and the remaining ice layer beneath. When trucks and heavy equipment travel over a layer of concrete or asphalt that isn’t well supported beneath, lots of permanent cracks can occur.”

For more information, contact the OCRC at 231-873-4226.

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