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   Each spring brings the start of Spring Road Weight Restrictions on area roadways, commonly referred to as “frost laws”. A sign of spring is when the temporary road signs that state “maximum load per axle” start getting installed at the beginning of roadways.  In addition, each Spring we field numerous questions about Spring Road Restrictions and weight limits and how they apply to certain Cass County roadways. Road restrictions in Minnesota are imposed to protect roads from damage caused by traffic and weather, especially during the spring thaw. Emergency response vehicles, school buses, and emergency utility vehicles may have exceptions.  Road restrictions are needed for many reasons, including:

  •    Extend road life: Heavy loads can damage roads, especially when the ground is wet from thawing frost. 

   • Save money: Road maintenance and construction costs are high, so it’s important to reduce wear and tear. 

   • Ensure safety: Larger commercial vehicles can cause more damage than many passenger cars. 

   Load limits on all County and Township roads are restricted during the spring thaw season by Minnesota Statute 169.87. This Statute states that all paved roads are restricted to ten (10) tons per axle and gravel roads to five (5) tons per axle unless posted otherwise. The beginning and end dates are set by the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) Commissioner of Transportation and Cass County follows MnDOT’s schedule of imposing these restrictions. Exceptions to the statute on Cass County roadways will be posted at the ends of the individual roadways. The majority of Cass County lies within the North-Central zone. Spring road restriction and other dates can be found on the DOT website here: https://www.dot.state.mn.us/loadlimits/index.html 

   All starting and ending dates begin at 12:01 a.m. and are preceded by at least a three-day advance notice. Notice is available on the website, or from a recording at 651-366-5400 or toll free at 1-800-723-6543. Cass County specific road restrictions, including information for each specific roadway, can be found here: 

https://www.casscountymn.gov/1300/Road-Restrictions-Construction

   The Cass County Sheriff’s Office, along with its partners at the Minnesota State Patrol Commercial Vehicle Division, does respond to, investigate, and enforce complaints about violations of Spring Road Conditions during these periods. 

   In addition to roadways, we also see trail and forest roadway closures in the Spring during the thaw. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has begun temporarily closing some DNR-managed roads and motorized trails as seasonal melting makes them too soft to support vehicle traffic without causing damage. The duration of the temporary closures in state forests, state parks, recreation areas, and wildlife management areas depends on local weather and surface conditions, which are difficult to predict and often change on a daily basis based on conditions. The DNR recommends checking the DNR website for road and trail condition updates, respect closures, and use good judgement wherever you travel. The DNR website for trail and roadway closures can be found here: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/trailconditions/index.html

   Cass County specific roadway and trail information can be found here: https://www.casscountymn.gov/1497/Roads-and-Trails 

   The Cass County trail closures often follow the DNR trail closures in the same area and are marked and posted at the beginning of each trail.  Citations and fines are applicable to those that travel beyond the posted trail closed signs. 

   If you have specific questions that you would like answered in this column or in person, please feel free to contact me anytime using one of the following methods:

Email: 

[email protected]

Phone: 

218-547-1424 | 1-800-450-2677

By Mail/In Person:

Cass County Sheriff’s Office

303 Minnesota Ave W

PO Box 1119

 Walker MN 56484

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