SDDOT to Post Emergency Vehicle Weight Limit Signage on Interstate System

For Immediate Release:  Monday, April 26, 2021

Contact: Contact:  David Coley, Bridge Management Engineer, 605-773-3285 

PIERRE, S.D. – The South Dakota Department of Transportation will be posting signs at 21 structures located on and directly adjacent to Interstates 90, 29, 229, and 190 due to a federal requirement. SDDOT says that new signage will be placed by April 30, 2021 to indicate the structures are now posted for Emergency Vehicle (EV) weight limits.

“SDDOT staff has reached out to emergency providers in the immediate vicinity of these structures to inform them of the new emergency vehicle weight restrictions,” says Michael Behm, Planning & Engineering Division Director. “By working with our providers prior to sign installation, it should minimize any potential impact to response time.”

The Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act requires all states to review structural capacity for very large vehicles which are used under emergency situations to transport personnel and equipment to support the suppression of fires and mitigation of other hazardous situations.

To ensure emergency vehicles can safely cross structures, the SDDOT and local government bridge owners use posting signs specifically tailored for emergency vehicles.  Adhering to the limits on the posting sign will help prevent structure damage and ensure the safety of the traveling public. The signs to be installed will display the maximum weight allowed for emergency vehicles for single axles, tandem axles, and gross weight.

These postings apply only to emergency vehicles. Other vehicle classifications must still obey all state and federal weight requirements. View posting locations and signage samples at:  https://dot.sd.gov/transportation/bridges/emergency-vehicle-posting.

The SDDOT is responsible for the analysis, rating, overload analysis, and oversight for condition inspection for 1800 structures on the State Trunk System. Monitoring and controlling vehicle weight limits is critical to maintaining a safe and efficient system.

In addition, SDDOT provides technical design guidance and construction engineering support services for the approximately 4000 bridges that are located on the local government systems in South Dakota.

Read more about the innovative work of the SDDOT at https://dot.sd.gov.

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