HomeMy WebLinkAbout54 22STATE OF WASHINGTON
COUNTY OF JEFFERSON
so
oIn the matter of x
Imposing Emergency Load x
Limits on County Roads x
RESOLUTION No. 54 22
A RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING EMERGENCY LOAD LIMITATIONS on various County
roads during periods of inclement weather, providing for special permit, allowances, and maximum
speeds.
WHEREAS, in accordance with the provisions of the Revised Code of Washington (RCW) 46.44.080 of
the State of Washington, all of the County roads in Jefferson County, Washington, may be closed to
travel by all vehicles, or by any class of vehicles hereinafter described, whenever by reason of rain, snow,
frost or other condition it becomes necessary to do so to prevent serious damage or destruction to County
roads; and
WHEREAS, said restriction shall be for a period not -to -exceed 120 days from the effective date of this
order; and
WHEREAS, this order shall cancel and supersede any previous order or orders in conflict therewith;
provided that this order shall not supersede or modify any restrictions now in force covering limited loads
on bridges located anywhere on the County Road System above referred to; and
WHEREAS, due to freeze and thaw periods, and other inclement weather which threaten the foundation
and surfaces of all County roads, it is deemed advisable by the Board of County Commissioners of
Jefferson County, Washington, upon recommendation of the County Engineer, to place certain
restrictions on various County Roads during such period to protect the roadway from extensive damage
by unrestricted traffic.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
that any or all County roads may be restricted from time to time based on recommendation as presented
by the County Engineer, said restrictions to be initiated and posted, pursuant to the attached Provisions,
which by this reference become part of this action, and RCW 46.44.080.
APPROVED this 2 /S' day of N oyetk' -Le r , 2022.
JEFFERSON COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
CA SC'Ci ,�deh Ce
Kai)Dean, District 1
Heidi Eis hour, District 2
reg 4Brotherton, District 3
ATTEST:
al-t wC
Clerk of the 8oard
STATEMENT OF PROVISIONS
These provisions are hereby adopted by the Jefferson County Board of Commissioners; said provisions
set forth the criteria for the implementation and enforcement of posting emergency load limitations on all
or any County roads.
The provisions shall include the following sections:
1. Declaration of purpose
2. Scope and construction of terms
3. Definitions
4. Emergency load limitations
5. Special allowance for authorized vehicles
6. Special Permits for authorized vehicles
7. Vehicle combinations
8. Maximum speed permitted on posted roads
9. Action for damage
10. Savings
EMERGENCY LOAD LIMITATIONS ON COUNTY ROADS
SECTION 1: DECLARATION OF PURPOSE
It is hereby declared to be policy of the Board of County Commissioners, recognizing the close relation
between climatic and other conditions and damage or destruction to County roads, to establish emergency
load limitation upon County roads to become effective during such periods of inclement weather, and to
establish special load limitations for school buses, motor trucks transporting perishable commodities or
commodities necessary to the health and welfare of County residents and motor vehicles providing
services necessary to the health and welfare of County residents when such emergency load limitations
are in effect.
SECTION 2. SCOPE AND CONSTRUCTION OF TERMS
Terms used in this resolution shall have that meaning given to them in this resolution and where not
defined herein shall have that meaning clearly indicated by the context in which such term is used.
SECTION 3. DEFINITION
(1) "Authorized emergency vehicle" means any vehicle of any fire department, sheriffs
office, coroner, prosecuting attorney, Washington State Patrol, ambulance service, public
or private, which need not be classified, registered, or authorized by the State
Commission on Equipment, including any other vehicle authorized in writing by the State
Commission on Equipment, or deemed by the above named department, offices and
agencies as necessary to assist in the handling of any such emergency.
(2) "Commodity necessary for health and welfare" means a product of agriculture or
manufacture which is necessary to provide essential shelter, food and fuel to people and
animals.
(3) "Service necessary to the health and welfare" means any service provided to the public
which is necessary to maintain essential power, gas, communications, garbage, sewer,
and water services for the community at large.
(4) "County Road" means every public highway or part thereof, maintained by the County
Road Division, lying outside the limits of incorporated cities and towns, and which has
not been designated as a state highway as that term is defined in R.C.W. 47.04.01 (36) as
now or hereafter amended.
(5) "Motor truck" means any motor vehicle designed or used for the transportation or
commodities, merchandise, produce, freight, animals, or other materials.
(6) "Motor vehicle" means every vehicle or vehicle combination which is self-propelled.
(7) "Gross weight," means the total vehicle weight including load.
(8) "Perishable commodity" means a product of agriculture, or manufacture, which by its
nature is subject to destruction, decay, deterioration or spoilage except under proper
conditions.
(9) "Person' means every natural person, firm co -partnership, corporation, association, or
organization.
(10) "Pneumatic tire" means every tire of rubber or other resilient material designed to be
inflated with compressed air to support the load thereon.
(11) "School bus" means every motor vehicle used regularly to transport children to and from
school which is subject to the requirements set forth in the most recent edition of
"Specifications for School Buses" published by the State Superintendent of Public
Instruction, but does not include buses operated by common carriers in urban
transportation of school children.
(12) "Tire width" in case of pneumatic tires shall be the maximum overall normal inflated
width as stipulated by the manufacturer when inflated to the pressure specified and
without load thereon.
(13) "Vehicle" means every device capable of being moved upon a public highway, and in,
upon or by which any persons or property is or may be transported or drawn upon a
public highway.
SECTION 4. EMERGENCY LOAD LIMITATIONS
(1) When in the opinion of the County Engineer any County road will be seriously damaged
or destroyed by reason of freeze and thawing conditions, or other inclement weather
unless the operation of vehicles thereon be restricted or the permissible weight thereof be
reduced, he/she shall impose emergency load limitations thereon by ordering the erection
of signs pursuant to subsection (2) of this section limiting the operation of motor vehicles
over such County road by any vehicle with a gross weight upon any tire concentrated
upon the surface of the County road in excess of the following load limitations.
Conventional Tires
Size
Tire Width
7.00 *
7.50
8.25
9.00
10.00
11.00 **
* And Under
* * And Over
Gross Load
Each Tire
1800 Lbs.
1800 Lbs.
1900 Lbs.
2250 Lbs.
2750 Lbs.
3000 Lbs.
RESTRICTIONS
Size
Tire Width
8-22.5*
9-22.5
10.22.5
11.22.5
11.24.5
12.22.5
Tubeless or Special
With .5 Markings
Gross Load
Each Tire
1800 Lbs.
1900 Lbs.
2250 Lbs.
2750 Lbs.
2750 Lbs.
3000 Lbs
(2) The emergency load limitations imposed by this section shall become effective upon the
erection and maintenance by County forces of signs designating such limitations at each
end of the affected portion of County road, and shall remain in full force until such signs
are removed by County forces at the direction of the County Engineer.
(3) No person shall operate upon any County road, any vehicle, except an authorized
emergency vehicle, with a gross weight upon any tire concentrated upon the surface of
the County road in excess of the limitations set forth in subsection (1) of this section
while emergency load limitations are in effect.
SECTION 5. SPECIAL ALLOWANCE FOR AUTHORIZED VEHICLES
When any emergency load limitation as defined in this resolution is in effect as to any County
Road, school buses, motor trucks transporting perishable commodities or commodities necessary
to the health and welfare of County residents are hereby permitted to exceed the emergency load
limitation; provided, that the gross weight of such vehicle shall not exceed that amount
determined by multiplying the total number of tires concentrated upon the surface of the road
times the maximum allowable gross weight per tire as follows:
SPECIAL RESTRICTIONS
Conventional Tires
Tubeless or Special
With .5 Markings
Size
Gross Load
Size
Gross Load
Tire Width
Each Tire
Tire Width
Each Tire
7.00*
1800 Lbs.
8-22.5*
1800 Lbs.
7.50
2000 Lbs.
9-22.5
2200 Lbs.
8.25
2200 Lbs.
10-22.5
2600 Lbs.
9.00
2600 Lbs.
11-22.5
3200 Lbs.
10.00
3200 Lbs.
11-24.5
3200 Lbs.
11.00**
3600 Lbs.
12-22.5**
3600 Lbs.
* And Under
* * And Over
Providing further, that where circumstances concerning a proposed move would constitute an undue
hardship, the County Engineer or his designee is authorized to issue special permits allowing such vehicle
to exceed the gross weight limits of this section; such permit to specify, but not be limited to, time of
movement and specific route information consistent with protecting the County roads from serious
damage.
SECTION 6. SPECIAL PERMITS FOR AUTHORIZED VEHICLES
The County Engineer or his designee is authorized to issue special permits allowing motor
vehicles providing services necessary to the health and welfare of County residents to exceed the
posted emergency load limitations; provided, that such permits, specify, but not be limited to,
time of movement, and specific route information consistent with protecting the County roads
from serious damage and be issued only in those instances where an immediate threat to the
public health and welfare exists.
SECTION 7. VEHICLE COMBINATIONS
When computing the maximum allowable gross weight of motor vehicles during periods of
emergency load limitations as provided for in Section 5, each vehicle, whether solo or part of a
vehicle combination, shall be considered separately except for semi and pole trailers which may
be considered as part of the towing vehicle if the load being carried by such a combination is
supported equally, plus or minus ten percent (10%) of both the trailer and towing vehicle.
SECTION 8. MAXIMUM SPEED PERMITTED ON POSTED ROADS
Except where applicable law or regulation specified a lower speed, no persons shall operate any
vehicle at a speed in excess of thirty (30) miles per hour upon any County road posted as to its
emergency load limitation.
SECTION 9. ACTION FOR DAMAGE
Any persons operating a motor vehicle upon any County road in violation of any provision of this
Resolution shall be liable in a civil action instituted in the name of the County, for any damage
occasioned to any County road as the result of disregarding any load limitation and using such
County road, or portion thereof, with any vehicle or any class of vehicle to which the same is
closed.
SECTION 10. SAVINGS
If any provision of this Resolution or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid,
the remainder of the Resolution or the application of the provision to other persons or
circumstances is not affected.
Department of Public Works
O Consent Agenda
Page 1 of 2
Jefferson County
Board of Commissioners
Agenda Request
To: Board of Commissioners
Mark McCauley, County Administrator
From: Monte Reinders, Public Works Director/County Engineer
Agenda Date: November 21, 2022
Subject: Resolution Pertaining to Emergency Load Limitations on County
Roads 2022-2023 Winter Season
Statement of Issue:
The Board is asked to review and approve a resolution establishing the procedure for
implementing emergency load limitations on various County roads during periods of
inclement weather.
Analysis/Strategic Goals/Pro's Et Con's:
In accordance with the provisions of the Revised Code of Washington (RCW) 46.44.080
of the State of Washington, any or all of the County roads in Jefferson County,
Washington, may be closed to travel by all vehicles, or by any class of vehicles as
described in the attached resolution, whenever by reason of rain, snow, frost or other
condition it becomes necessary to do so to prevent serious damage or destruction to
County roads. This resolution authorizes the restriction of County roads during the
2022-2023 winter season at periods and locations recommended by the County
Engineer according to the provisions attached. The County Engineer will notify the
Board through the County Administrator of the specific road locations and durations
prior to implementing any restriction and will post the roads accordingly and place
notice in appropriate newspapers and on the County internet site.
Fiscal Impact/Cost Benefit Analysis:
This action is intended to provide cost savings to the County by allowing temporary
load limitations when necessary to prevent damage to certain County roadways.
Department of Public Works
O Consent Agenda
Page 2 of 2
Recommendation:
The Board is requested to sign the Resolution where indicated and return a copy to
Public Works.
Department Contact:
Monte Reinders, County Engineer
385-9242
Reviewed By:
ark McCakgy, County Administra Date