A truck weight limit increase is being considered by the Georgia General Assembly, but Northwest Georgia officials said the change would have too great an effect on safety and upkeep for area roads and bridges.
The bill, HB 189, was the subject of a Georgia House Transportation Committee meeting Feb. 9. If passed, the legislation would raise weight limits from 80,000 pounds to 90,000 pounds for all five-axle trucks.
“They’re (legislation sponsors) wanting to increase the weight to where they can’t travel the interstate, federal highways,” Ted Rumley, chairman of the Dade County Board of Commissioners and county executive, said in a phone interview. “They’ll have to get off on the adjoining road, our county road, and we already have issues with overloading with these timber trucks, concrete trucks.”
The weight restriction on federal roads and bridges is 80,000 pounds.