Transportation Oks Plan To Increase Weight Limits

A plan to increase the truck weight limit on sections of some Idaho highways, including parts of U.S. 95 in the north, U.S. 93 in the south and U.S. 30 in the southeast, has cleared its first hurdle.

The Idaho Transportation Board on Friday adopted a resolution identifying three routes that meet engineering requirements for raising the truck weight limit from 105,500 to 129,000 pounds.

The Legislature must approve the increased truck weight limits before they can go into effect.

Board member Leon Smith of Twin Falls said a subcommittee of the board opted against including a section of U.S. 95 from Moscow to the Canadian border for a higher limit. Board member John McHugh of Coeur d’Alene has objected to including the stretch because of safety concerns.

The board also rejected proposals to designate highways from Council to Nampa and Nampa to Twin Falls for the increased weight.

Union Pacific Railroad’s recent service problems, particularly in regard to agricultural producers, prompted Gov. Phil Batt to call on the Legislature to designate some state highways for increased truck weight limits and change the weight-distance tax on trucks to make the industry more competitive.

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THE ROUTES The Idaho Transportation Department approved the following routes for an increase in the truck weight limit: U.S. 95 between Moscow and Grangeville. U.S. 20 from Ashton to Rexburg; Idaho 33 from Rexburg to Arco; U.S. 93 from Arco to its junction with Idaho 25 east of Jerome; Idaho 25, 50 and 74 to its junction with U.S. 93 south of Twin Falls, and U.S. 93 to the Nevada line. U.S. 30 from the Wyoming line on the east and McCammon on the west to its junction with Idaho 34 west of Soda Springs, Idaho 34 to Preston and U.S. 91 to the Utah line.