Iron County lifts most spring road restrictions, Amasa closures remain

The Iron County Road Commission lifted spring road restrictions on most county roads Monday, May 11, but Deer Lake Road, Premo Creek Road and Cable Lake Road remained under restriction, and several Amasa routes stayed closed because of flooding and damage.

That leaves a mixed picture for anyone planning to move around the county. Farmers, contractors and timber haulers can expect fewer spring load limits on most routes, while school buses, delivery trucks and everyday drivers still need to avoid Maki Road from the Hemlock bridge to Bates-Amasa Road, Park City Road at the Hemlock River and Spruce Street from Highway 141 to River Lane. Those closures continue to force detours in and around Amasa, where the commission has not set a reopening timeline.

The road commission, which maintains 224 MDOT highway miles, 270 primary road miles and 363 local road miles, said the superintendent is the sole point of contact for road restriction issues. It said restriction changes take effect only when written notice is delivered to the Iron County Sheriff’s Department and road signs are posted or removed, a process that matters in a county where a few closed segments can quickly disrupt hauling plans and emergency response.

Anyone needing a permit for an oversize move, an overweight load, a spring restriction trip, culvert work or work in the right of way must now use the Oxcart permit system. The commission says requests should be submitted 24 to 48 hours before the desired move date, and credit cards are the only accepted payment method. With construction season starting soon and the commission’s website updated April 29, the change in spring restrictions signals a shift from thaw-season caution to warmer-weather road work across the county.

The timing also fits the broader pattern of spring frost laws in Michigan. The Michigan Department of Transportation says seasonal weight restrictions are imposed to protect roads, with normal maximum axle weights reduced 25% on rigid pavements and 35% on flexible pavements. The Michigan County Road Association says those limits are commonly called frost laws because roads can be fragile as frost leaves the ground. Iron County’s own historical chart shows how variable the season can be, with an earliest recorded start of February 19, 2002, and a shortest recorded duration of 41 days in 1981.