"Under the authority of SDCL 32-22-24, Highway Maintaining Authorities may restrict loads anytime from February 15 to April 30 to protect their highways from break-up during the spring thaw."
| Field | Detail |
|---|---|
| Status | Active postings confirmed on SDDOT state highways from February 16, 2026; authority window runs through April 30, 2026 |
| Status Timestamp | 2026-03-11T02:08:38+00:00 |
| Coverage | State highways (SDDOT-managed, partial) and county roads (county-managed independently not determined by the State). County limits must be confirmed directly with each County Highway Superintendent. |
| Effective Dates | Active from February 16, 2026; end date up to April 30, 2026 (statutory maximum under SDCL 32-22-24). Individual segment removal dates are posted in the live online table only restrictions may be added or lifted at any time within this window based on conditions. |
| Weight Limits | Per-segment posting values are available only in the live Spring Load Limits table (Ninja Table ID 635) specific figures were not extractable from the official webpage. Verify at sdtruckinfo.sd.gov or call 605.224.SEMI before dispatch. |
| Key Roads | SDDOT-maintained state highways (partial segments); specific highway numbers, locations, and MRM ranges are available only in the online live table. Current postings maps for February 16 and February 17, 2026 are available as PDFs on the source page. |
| Exemptions | Not specified |
| Penalties | Not specified |
| Contact | Phone: 605.224.SEMI | Web: sdtruckinfo.sd.gov | Office: SD Department of Transportation (SDDOT) |
| Primary Status Source URL | https://sdtruckinfo.sd.gov/rules-regulations/size-weight-regulations/spring-load-restrictions/ |
Coverage Scope
- State highways (SDDOT-managed): Restrictions are imposed and managed by SDDOT under SDCL 32-22-24. Current postings maps dated February 16 and February 17, 2026 confirm active restrictions on state highway segments. Specific highway numbers, MRM ranges, and per-segment posting weights are available only in the live online table.
- County roads (independently managed): "County road posted load limits are not determined by the State. Please use the information below to contact the county for questions/concerns as county road load limits are not determined by the State." County restrictions are set and managed independently by each county. Contact the applicable County Highway Superintendent directly for county road questions. The 2026 County Superintendent Phone & Email List (updated 2026-02-01) is available as a PDF on the source page.
- The live Spring Load Limits data table (Ninja Table ID 635) is online; row-level data including specific highways, locations, MRM ranges, posting weights, and removal dates should be verified directly on the official table.
Legal Authority and Restriction Window
- Statutory authority: SDCL 32-22-24.
- Highway Maintaining Authorities may restrict loads anytime from February 15 to April 30 to protect highways from break-up during the spring thaw.
- Restrictions may be imposed or removed at any time within that window based on road conditions individual segment posting and removal dates vary.
- 2026 active postings confirmed starting February 16, 2026; separate maps published for February 16 and February 17, 2026 indicate rolling or phased posting by region.
How SDDOT Determines Restrictions
- "To avoid imposing Spring Load Restrictions earlier or longer than necessary, the South Dakota Department of Transportation monitors daily high and low temperatures at locations throughout the state and calculates accumulated freeze and thaw indexes."
- Accumulated freeze and thaw indexes are calculated to determine when to impose and remove per-segment restrictions.
- Observed highway conditions and the experience of field personnel are also factors in posting decisions.
2026 Resources
- 2026 County Load Limits PDF county-level posted limits
- 2026 Summary & Historical Data PDF miles restricted annually since 1970
- County Superintendent Phone & Email List (updated 2026-02-01) use for county road restriction questions
- Current postings maps for February 16, 2026 and February 17, 2026 are available as PDFs on the source page.
Email Notifications
Subscribe to the SDDOT Spring Load Limit email list to receive alerts when restrictions are posted or lifted: Subscribe here.
Dispatch Guidance
- Restrictions are confirmed active on SDDOT state highways from February 16, 2026 through up to April 30, 2026.
- Specific highway segments, per-segment posting weight levels, and removal dates are only available in the live online table they should be verified directly on the official table. Do not assume any segment is clear without verifying the live table.
- Verify current postings at sdtruckinfo.sd.gov or call 605.224.SEMI before every dispatch during the February 15 April 30 window.
- For county road postings, contact the applicable County Highway Superintendent using the 2026 contact list linked above county limits are not set by SDDOT and are not reflected in the state highway live table.
- Agencies involved: SD Department of Transportation (SDDOT), SD Department of Revenue, SD Department of Public Safety.
- Consider subscribing to the SDDOT email list to receive real-time posting and lifting alerts without manually checking the source page.
Source Attribution
Primary source: https://sdtruckinfo.sd.gov/rules-regulations/size-weight-regulations/spring-load-restrictions/
Retrieved: 2026-03-11T02:08:38+00:00
Status observed: 2026-02-17T00:00:00Z
Verify current segment details directly at the official source.
