IRON MOUNTAIN — The Dickinson County Road Commission has announced a new seasonal road restrictions application for mobile devices.

DCRC Managing Director James Harris advises with the warmer weather residents can expect seasonal weight and speed restrictions to be set soon. Restrictions are placed each year on county roads in order to help minimize the impact of heavy truck traffic during the annual spring freeze/thaw cycle.

Due to road classification and the deteriorating condition of many roads in the county, these restrictions are critical in order to prolong the life of these roads as much as possible.

On restricted roads, axle loadings are reduced by 35% and the speed limit is reduced to 35 mph, unless posted lower, for every vehicle with a gross weight of 10,000 pounds or more.

Certain roads that are designated “all-season” routes and considered to be in satisfactory condition can be utilized for up to normal legal loading — no overweight loads — during seasonal restrictions.

Dickinson County has over 25 roads listed as “all-season” routes. The public can to go to the road commission’s website at www.dickinsoncrc.com to view the list and the latest updates.

The County Road Association of Michigan’s Seasonal Weight Restrictions information and status map for all the counties in the state is also available online at micountyroads.org and on the new CRA Seasonal Restrictions App.

“It is especially important to be aware that MDOT places and lifts restrictions on their highway system independently from the road commission and the dates for the MDOT highway system status may or may not coincide with the road commission dates for placing and lifting county road restrictions,” said Harris.

Based on historical data, Dickinson County road restrictions have been placed as early as Feb. 23 and as late as March 19. Some years they have been lifted as late as the third or fourth week of May.

The road commission has and will continue to work cooperatively with industry as much as reasonably possible during restrictions and will provide a minimum of 48-hour advance notice before implementing seasonal weight restrictions whenever possible, Harris notes.

Permits and bonding are possible options when conditions will allow and approval is granted by the commission.

Contact the road commission weighmaster at 906-282-5988 or the DCRC office at 906-774-1588 for more information.

To download CRA’s app go to the Google Play store or iOS App Store and type in “Michigan Seasonal Weight Restrictions.”