Colorado Frost Laws & Spring Thaw Limits

How Colorado handles spring thaw

Colorado has no statewide CDOT spring-thaw program, so the Interstates and main state highways hold normal limits through the thaw. The cut comes from the counties. Under C.R.S. 42-4-106 a county can post its secondary and mountain roads with a spring load limit, dropping weight by as much as roughly 35% on a weak road. That posted sign is the legal limit. Check with the county before you run a back road.

Window, reduction, and where to check

• Season: No statewide CDOT spring-thaw program on the state-highway system. Counties post spring load limits on their secondary and mountain roads as the ground thaws, roughly late February into May, with dates set locally each year.
• Reduction: On a posted county secondary road axle and gross limits can drop by as much as about 35%. There is no statewide number; the county sets it and posts it on the sign.
• Interstates: Exempt from the seasonal reduction
• Find the current order: CDOT does not seasonally post the state-highway system. For county and secondary roads check with the county road department and watch for posted signs. CDOT road conditions are at codot.gov; the roadside sign is the legal limit.
• Overweight penalty: Standard Colorado overweight penalty; statewide gross-weight limits are set at C.R.S. 42-4-508 and the fine is assessed on the pounds over the posted limit.

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