By Robert Tomlinson
News Director
CENTREVILLE — As winter goes into its final weeks and spring starts to bloom with higher temperatures, annual weight restrictions on St. Joseph County roads will go into effect as well.
The St. Joseph County Road Commission announced Wednesday that seasonal speed and weight restrictions, also known as frost laws, will go into effect beginning Friday, Feb. 28 at 6 a.m. and continue until further notice.
The restrictions, which do not apply to “All-Weather” roads (see list at the end of the article) or gravel roads, reduce normal multi-axle vehicle truckloads by 35 percent and reduces their speeds to 35 miles per hour, depending on truck size and axle spacing. The speed restriction, according to the Road Commission, also applies to empty trucks if they weigh over 10,000 lbs. (5 tons). Agricultural commodities must also adhere to the reduced speed, however no weight reduction is required. Pickup trucks and passenger cars will not be affected by the frost laws either.
During the frost law season, county roads will be patrolled by certified weigh masters, and those violating restrictions will be subject to fines. Special permits for designated routes during frost laws will be required.
More information on the frost laws and the status of county seasonal weight restrictions can be found on the St. Joseph County Road Commission website, stjoeroads.com, or micountyroads.org to check on the status of seasonal weight restrictions statewide.
All-Weather Routes in St. Joseph County
- US-12 – entire length of road in St. Joseph County
- M-66 between M-60 and Indiana state line
- M-60 entire length of road in St. Joseph County
- US-131 entire length of road in St. Joseph County including by-pass
- M-86 between Branch County line to M-66
- A Road from US-12 north to Consumers Energy property.
- Anderson Road from US-131 west to The Andersons.
- Blue School Road between Indian Prairie Road and Anderson Road.
- Bogen Road from M-66 west 750′.
- Bogen Road from M-66 east to McCarthy Court.
- Broadway Road between US-131 and Roberts Road.
- Centreville-Constantine Road between M-86 and Featherstone Road.
- Crooked Creek Road between Fawn River Road and Klinger Lake Road.
- Dickinson Road from US-131 west 600 feet.
- Fawn River Road between M-66 and Crooked Creek Road.
- Featherstone Road between M-66 and the Village of Constantine.
- Fulton Road between M-60 and the Kalamazoo County Line.
- Halfway Road between the Village of Burr Oak Limits and US-12.
- Heimbach Road between US-131 and M-60.
- Klinger Lake Road between Crooked Creek Road and Featherstone Road.
- Lutz Road between M-86 and US-12.
- Michigan Avenue between US-131 and Silver Street.
- North Burr Oak Road between M-86 and Wattles Road.
- North Centreville Road between Wait Road and City of Sturgis.
- Progress Street between City of Sturgis and White School Road
- Riverside Drive between US-12 and the Village of Constantine
- Roberts Road between Broadway Road and M-60.
- S. Nottawa Road 1000’ south of Bogen Road
- Shimmel Road between US-12 and M-86
- Silver Street between M-60 and the Kalamazoo County Line.
- Wait Road between North Centreville Road and M-66
- Wattles Road between North Burr Oak Road and the Branch County Line.
- White School between Progress and US-12
- Youngs Prairie Road between BR US-131 by-pass and into Village of Constantine and M-60.
Note: M-86 between M-66 and Business Route U.S. 131 is NOT an All-Weather Route.
Robert Tomlinson can be reached at 279-7488 or robert@wilcoxnewspapers.com.
