Roads one topic at Winter Ag Expo

Talk about it

Road load limits in Stutsman County will be the topic of an educational presentation during the Winter Ag Expo at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at the Jamestown Civic Center.

The presentation is part of the Winter Ag Expo presented by Ingstad Family Media. The expo will include seminars, presentations and vendor booths during its two-day run at the Civic Center.

“We’re setting it up as an informational meeting on the truck load regulations,” said Dave Schwartz, Stutsman County commissioner and emcee of the presentation. “We want to educate people on the different axle configurations and the weights that can be hauled.”

Schwartz said the issue is becoming more important as corn becomes a more predominant crop in the area. The weight and volume of a corn crop are about four times greater than the weight and volume of a wheat crop from a similar acreage. This added volume means more truck traffic on the roads.

“We’re looking for a better way to get the commodity moved with the best possible life for the road,” he said.

Schwartz also said the county is considering changing the load limits on county roads to more closely reflect the regulations on state and federal roads. Tuesday’s presentation will also include information for township officials who are contemplating making adjustments to the load limits on township roads.

The county commonly allows “frost permits” during the winter allowing trucks to exceed limits by 10 percent when the roads are frozen. During the spring, road load limits are reduced while the road beds are soft from the spring melt.

Any changes in county or township regulations might occur after the spring limits are lifted,

“That would give more time for the townships to determine what to do,” Schwartz said.

The presentation will include information from the North Dakota Highway Patrol, the multi-county truck regulator and the Stutsman County Sheriff’s Office.

The presentation is free and open to the public. The Winter Ag Expo is also free and runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday at the Jamestown Civic Center.

Sun reporter Keith Norman can be reached at 701-952-8452 or by email at knorman@jamestownsun.com

Tags: local news, winter ag expo, news, local, agriculture