Vermont towns are calling on Congress to increase the allowable weight limit for trucks on Vermont’s interstate highways in hopes of ridding local roads of heavy trucks.
Eight have passed a Vermont League of Cities and Towns resolution seeking the change, including Thetford, which did so Monday. The Selectboard chairman, Michael Brown, says Thetford’s roads are taking a bigger beating than they should because trucks weighing up to 99,000 pounds are allowed on them.
U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., has reservations about the higher limits, which could worsen damage on the highways.
The 99,000-pound limit is in place on New Hampshire interstates and on some toll roads in New York and Massachusetts.