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National Boards => General Highway Talk => Topic started by: roadman65 on July 07, 2020, 06:21:19 PM

Title: Weight Limit Signs
Post by: roadman65 on July 07, 2020, 06:21:19 PM
I noticed that in Missouri alot of freeway bridges warn vehicles that there is a 30 ton maximum on bridges. Why is that needed to be posted? Are not all semis less than that particular weight?

Plus how come you do not see that pretty much elsewhere unless AK, HI, MT, and WA (states I never yet visited) have them.

Title: Re: Weight Limit Signs
Post by: KEK Inc. on July 07, 2020, 06:24:13 PM
Washington state started adding them back in 2017.  Probably in response to our deteriorating infrastructure.

Also, if a vehicle damages a structure, the state can bill them if they were too heavy for the load listed on the sign.


iPhone
Title: Re: Weight Limit Signs
Post by: Big John on July 07, 2020, 06:36:41 PM
The standard for freeways is 40 tons, though can be higher.  The 30 ton sign is needed as trucks could be overweight.
Title: Re: Weight Limit Signs
Post by: ErmineNotyours on July 07, 2020, 11:42:31 PM
I wondered the same thing, and found this: Load Rating for the FAST Act's Emergency Vehicles (https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/bridge/loadrating/161103.cfm).  I don't know why the entire country is not following these guidelines.
Title: Re: Weight Limit Signs
Post by: Kniwt on July 11, 2020, 10:22:20 PM
Spotted some unusual ones recently in northern Montana, with weight limit based on tire width. Didn't take any pics, but here's a Street View from just outside Dutton:

(https://i.imgur.com/gYLZEHH.png)

https://goo.gl/maps/GkaZc7qEoeUxDuMx5
Title: Re: Weight Limit Signs
Post by: STLmapboy on July 11, 2020, 10:56:03 PM
Not even just freeway signs in Missouri. Small residential roads have stuff like this (https://www.google.pl/maps/@38.6121964,-90.4967116,3a,15y,276.49h,85.27t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sB7MnLep3u-aV0FbOBbX57A!2e0!7i13312!8i6656/). I just drove this road today, in fact.
Title: Re: Weight Limit Signs
Post by: ErmineNotyours on July 11, 2020, 11:34:58 PM
Even at 25 mph, this is a lot to take in.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48525676717_43d2a1abf7_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2gW3M5z)
Title: Re: Weight Limit Signs
Post by: ozarkman417 on July 11, 2020, 11:53:56 PM
They are both more detailed and more common on smaller two-lane roads with smaller or older bridges, such as this one (https://www.google.com/maps/@36.5776729,-92.6412597,3a,48.9y,290.82h,88.25t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sJ7fVmUoGSqNvN3Sp0MWD8A!2e0!7i13312!8i6656). I don't blame them for that one, as that is an old truss dating back to the fifties.
Title: Re: Weight Limit Signs
Post by: Big John on July 12, 2020, 12:00:32 AM
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fpicayune.uclick.com%2Fcomics%2Fch%2F1986%2Fch861126.gif&hash=10a4d94a7545e59c724a9eb87132cf293ad5b325)
Title: Re: Weight Limit Signs
Post by: RobbieL2415 on July 12, 2020, 11:44:25 AM
MA likes to sprinkle weight limit signs around.
Title: Re: Weight Limit Signs
Post by: STLmapboy on July 12, 2020, 12:23:23 PM
Quote from: ozarkman417 on July 11, 2020, 11:53:56 PM
They are both more detailed and more common on smaller two-lane roads with smaller or older bridges, such as this one (https://www.google.com/maps/@36.5776729,-92.6412597,3a,48.9y,290.82h,88.25t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sJ7fVmUoGSqNvN3Sp0MWD8A!2e0!7i13312!8i6656). I don't blame them for that one, as that is an old truss dating back to the fifties.

I'm honestly more surprised that MO uses yellow traffic signals in construction zones, backplates and all. https://www.google.com/maps/@36.5774968,-92.6425592,3a,27.8y,278.39h,93.3t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s2THz-lgs1vK0uIj0w8QTbQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656