County to remove winter road load limits

Whitman County public works last Friday re-opened all county roads to heavy traffic, signaling spring’s impending arrival.

Roads have been shut down since late fall to heavy loads to prevent damage to roads that have been softened by moisture in road beds.

Such traffic has been allowed at certain times of the day under permits, but Public Works Director Mark Storey said the number of heavy loads required to be transported during spring planting season makes the permit process too cumbersome.

Some roads, primarily in the north and east sections of the county, remain soft and may be shut down on an individual basis to prevent damage, Storey added.

Phil Meyer, county maintenance operation manager, said most of the product hauled during the winter shut-down got through on the permit system.