Both the counties and the state of Wisconsin have weight limits on their roads during the spring thaw.
Ashland County: On March 2, 2026 the Ashland County Highway Department released un update detailing the trunk highway seasonal weight limitations. As you can see in the attached news release, starting March 5, weight is restricted to 4 tons per axle on Ashland County trunk highways. County trunk highways are distinct from state highways. This WIDOT map shows County trunk highways, differentiated from state highways.
Enbridge equiptment is subject to these restrictions as well. See additional details about the Ashland County seasonal road restrictions, including information about special hauling permits here.
State of Wisconsin: The WIDOT also weight limits for Seasonal Posted Roads and for Class II Roads. All restrictions began on Monday, March 9, 2026. (The reroute is all within Zone 1 (Ashland, Iron, and Bayfield Counties)).
See map of all restricted highways in WI here.
- Class II highways: The state restricts weight on all Class II roads. These are state highways that are judged to have unstable condition of the roadway subgrade during the period when frost is leaving the ground such that the travel of vehicles with overweight permits would cause undue damage to the roadway.
- During this time, most divisible load multiple trip permits exceeding legal axle weights or 80,000 pounds (the legal load limit) are suspended, and overweight non-divisible multiple trip and single trip permits must stay off highway sections designated as Class II.
- Click here for a list of Class II highways in WI.
- Springtime Posted Roads: The sate of WI also restricts some state numbered highways. These roadway sections are too weak to withstand even the legal load limit (80,000 pounds) during the seasonal freezing and thawing period.
- These highway sections have signs posted indicating the allowable weight limits during the period normally from the second week in March till late April or early May.
- Click here for a list of all of the springtime posted roads, and their specific weight restrictions.
Enbridge will likely use chainsaws to deforest the easements during this timeframe, and do other work they can do without bringing heavy machinery on the restricted roadways.
