RESEARCH PAYS OFF: SPRING LOAD RESTRICTIONS: IMPROVING MINNESOTA'S POLICY

Spring is a critical period for highways in freeze-thaw environments; the freeze-thaw cycle allows water to be trapped between pavement layers and leads to weakened roads. Spring load restrictions (SLRs) must be implemented as a pavement preservation strategy and means for protecting the public investment. It is important to post SLRs when they will be most effective--at the beginning of the thaw when the base layer is less stiff. Proper measurement and prediction of thaws are crucial to establishing a successful load restriction strategy. The Minnesota Department of Transportation recently implemented a more effective SLR strategy. This article examines this strategy and discusses its benefits.