LANSING — The Michigan Department of Transportation is enacting spring weight restrictions to protect roads.

Effective 6 a.m. Monday, weight restrictions will be imposed and enforced on all state trunkline highways in the entire state. State routes typically carry M, I, or U.S. designations.

On routes designated as “all-season” — designated in green and gold on the MDOT Truck Operators Map — there will be no reduction in legal axle weights.

All extended permits will be valid for oversize loads in the weight-restricted area on the restricted routes. Single-trip permits will not be issued for any overweight loads or loads exceeding 14 feet in width, 11 axles, and 150 feet in overall length on the restricted routes.

On routes designated as “seasonal” — designated in solid or dashed red on the MDOT Truck Operators Map — there will be a posted weight reduction of 25% for concrete pavements and 35% for asphalt pavements, and maximum speed of 35 mph for some vehicles.

For weight restriction information and updates, call 1-800-787-8960 or go to www.Michigan.gov/Truckers.

County road commissions put in place their own seasonal weight restrictions, which usually, but not always, coincide with state highway weight restrictions. Signs are generally posted to indicate which routes have weight restrictions in effect. Dickinson County Road Commission will enforce spring weight restrictions on all county roads beginning at 7 a.m. Monday until further notice.

When roads that have been frozen all winter begin to thaw from the surface downward, melting snow and ice saturate the softened ground. During the spring thaw, the roadbed softened by trapped moisture beneath the pavement makes it more susceptible to damage. This contributes to pothole problems already occurring due to this winter’s numerous freeze-thaw cycles.