A few VA photos worth mentioning:
3. I am not sure why the VA 156 BUS bridge over Bailey's Creek has an Emergency Vehicle Weight Limit, but not any other weight limit. (https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10217882385251788&set=a.10217882434013007)
It's a federal requirement. This is the information Kentucky has posted:
Know Your Limits- Kentucky Bridge Weight Limits for Emergency Vehicles
Emergency Vehicles (EVs) are designed to be used under emergency conditions to transport personnel and equipment to suppress fires and mitigate other hazardous situations (23 U.S.C. 127(r)(2)).
Under this provision, the gross vehicle weight (GVW) limit for EVs is 86,000 pounds for vehicles traveling on an interstate or within one mile of an interstate (pursuant to Section 1410 of the FAST Act).
The Bridge Weight Limits map displays weight restricted bridges EV operators should avoid if they do not meet the posted weights. There are two ways to search for bridges in your service area that may be restricted from use:
See our Weight Limits interactive map. Once on the page, click the magnifying glass icon in the top right corner of the map, select “gross posted or EVs restricted” from the search layer dropdown menu, select your county, then click search. All of the bridges in blue have a known restriction. Double-click the icon to see bridge weight details. If the EV exceeds ANY of the four posted weight limits for the bridge, then the EV is not permitted to use the structure. See Interactive Map here.
See a list of bridge weight limits for emergency vehicles by county here.
The statute authorizes the following additional weight limits, depending upon vehicle configuration: 1 ton= 2000 pounds
24,000 pounds on a single steering axle;
33,500 pounds on a single drive axle;
62,000 pounds on a tandem axle; or
52,000 pounds on a tandem rear drive steer axle.
If the Emergency vehicle exceeds the gross posting, the vehicle is restricted; otherwise if the vehicle exceeds any of the listed single axle, tandem axle, or EV gross posting- the vehicle is restricted from utilizing that structure.
Questions? Contact Division of Maintenance, Bridge Preservation, 502-564-4556.