Travel Restrictions
The most essential function of the Over-Dimension Permit Unit is to ensure safe movement of loads through Oregon. This web page deals specifically with matters that affect the movement of oversize loads. General information relating to oversize movement in Oregon is available on our
Over-Dimension Operations web page.
Occasions with different travel restrictions or limitations that can block or delay travel include:
- Construction projects that restrict available lane width, height, length or weight.
- Unforeseen events like wildfire, landslides or weather.
- The observance of six holiday periods, during which movement of some types of combinations are not allowed to travel. See your permit and/or attachment for specific details regarding all travel restrictions.
Travel depends upon weather and road conditions at the time of actual movement. Always check for available highway and weather information before beginning a trip. The following resources contain weather-related travel restrictions.
CAUTION: Chain-up locations are not intended to serve as staging areas for over-dimension loads. Parking in chain-up areas is strictly prohibited.
Motor Carrier ResponsibilityIt is the driver's responsibility to determine if local road conditions are hazardous, unless the Oregon Department of Transportation has closed or posted signs on the highway displaying restrictions due to weather/road conditions in the area.
See the Commerce and Compliance Division’s
Policy for Travel During Periods of Inclement Weather.
Motor carriers found to be operating in weather conditions considered hazardous may receive a Civil Complaint and/or Monetary Penalties. In most cases, it is up to the State Police and local law enforcement to address on-highway situations.
Appropriate communication and analysis must happen before implementing a proposed weight restriction on the state highway system.
Emergency Vehicle Bridge Restrictions
Bridge weight restrictions are required when the engineering analysis of a bridge, known as a load rating, indicates that it cannot carry standard legal loads. Load ratings provide information about how much distributed weight can safely pass over a bridge. A posted bridge is safe to use, but the weight of certain vehicles and/or combination of vehicles must be limited accordingly.
Oregon has identified bridges that are currently weight restricted for emergency vehicles due to their weight distribution over a short-wheelbase for a single vehicle. Please check our
current list of bridges for regular updates.
Note: A large number of additions were made to our current list of bridges as of December 2023. Please ensure the most current list is used.
For questions regarding weight restrictions, please contact the Over-Dimension Permit Unit at 503-373-0000.
Highway Restriction Notices
Contractors; Resident Engineers; Project Managers and ODOT Region Mobility Liaisons must complete an online
Highway Restriction Notice Form whenever construction or maintenance work will either close a state highway or ramp; or restrict the width, length, height or weight of trucks within a work zone on a state highway.
For questions regarding the highway restriction notice form or the restriction notice process, please contact our OD Restriction Notices Team. See our Statewide Mobility Program web page for additional information regarding standards and processes that help ODOT.
Submitting Highway Restriction Notices allows the ODOT Over-Dimension Permit Unit to ensure work zone safety and help motor carriers hauling oversize loads plan their trips by:
For all project work (excluding maintenance), a restriction notice is not needed if work activity meets ALL of the following requirements (per Chapter 5 of the Mobility Procedures Manual). For maintenance work, refer to Activity 1 of ODOT’s Maintenance Mobility Requirements.
Project staff can safely accommodate all unannounced oversize loads through the work zone with minimal delay by moving cones, equipment out of the way. Contact the Mobility Team for accommodation requirements on mainline interstate highways.
The minimum width maintained for a single open travel lane is 22 feet or greater between barriers, including the travel lane plus any paved shoulder.
The minimum width maintained for traffic is 28 feet or greater for two travel lanes for one way traffic.
The minimum width maintained for traffic is 28 feet or greater for two travel lanes for two-way traffic with no traffic separator/candlesticks being used on the centerline.
No lane shifts or lane closures will divert traffic into a travel lane with less vertical clearance underneath structures.
Traffic is not detoured onto a secondary route.
Ramps are not closed.
No length restriction is needed.
No weight restriction is needed.
For contractors who are still required to submit a restriction notice (per contract specifications 00220.03(a) Work Zone Notifications), the contractor can submit the form and indicate that no restriction is needed in the “Explanation of Work” field (provided all of requirements described above are met).
Regardless of the type of restriction, contractors are required to submit the Highway Restriction Notice Form 35 days before work begins to allow time for the Over-Dimension Permit Unit to review and submit the form to the Mobility Team.
- The Mobility Team must receive restriction notices 14-28 days prior to work beginning.
- The amount of notice needed is based on the location and type of restriction.
See chapter five of our
Mobility Procedures Manual for specific notification requirements. Typical requirements are:
- 14-day notice — Ramp closures to/from a local road.
- 28-day notice — Full highway closures and traffic is being detoured.
- 14-28 day notice — Width restrictions due to lane closures or reduced roadway width. See Daytime and Nighttime Width Restrictions.
- 28-day notice — Ramp closures to/from a state highway.
- 28-day notice — Weight restrictions affecting annual oversize permit holders.
- 28-day notice — Length restrictions affecting annual oversize permit holders.
The amount of notice needed is based on the route, the width and whether the restriction is during the day or night.
- Use the following Freight Mobility Maps to determine the color of route the restriction will be on.
- Use the tables below to determine the amount of notice required.
- Use this Sunrise/Sunset Calendar to determine if the allowable lane closure hours and/or width restrictions occur during the daytime or nighttime requirements.
Daytime width restrictions occur from ½ hour before sunrise to ½ hour after sunset.
Freight Mobility Daylight Width Map
Restriction Notification Requirement | Black (Interstate) | Black (Non-Interstate) | Blue | Red |
|---|
| 28 to 35-Day Notification | Less than 19 Feet | Less than 17 Feet | Less than 15 Feet | N/A |
| 14-Day Notification | 19 Feet to 22 Feet | 17 Feet to 22 Feet | 15 Feet to 22 Feet | Less than 22 Feet |
Restriction Notification
Requirement | Green(Interstate) | Green (Non-Interstate) | Black |
|---|
| 28 to 35-Day Notification |
Less than 15 Feet |
Less than 13 Feet |
Less than 15 Feet |
| 14-Day Notification |
15 Feet to 22 Feet |
13 Feet to 22 Feet |
Less than 22 Feet |
Districts
The District Manager or their designee may require restrictions (e.g., emergency declarations) as necessary to:
• Protect the safety and convenience of the traveling public.
• Protect any highway or section from damage.
• Avoid conflict with highway construction or repair projects.
• Cope with other local traffic conditions.
Mobility Liaisons
Mobility Liaisons are also the primary resource for planners, project team leaders, resident engineers, managers in Region and District offices, Mobility and the Over-Dimension Permit Unit for assistance with meeting mobility goals and the restriction notice process. A current list of Region Mobility Liaisons is found on the
Statewide Mobility Program web page.
See Chapter 2 in the
Mobility Procedures Manual for additional information about District Manager and Mobility Region Liaison responsibilities.
Project or Event Road Restrictions
The Commerce and Compliance Division sends letters to all holders of annual over-dimension permits notifying them of upcoming road and bridge restrictions that may affect their trucking operations.
Notes:
- Motor carriers need to provide this information to their drivers to ensure they are aware of the restrictions.
- Road restriction dates on the recent restriction letters listed below may change or be extended due to weather or other unforeseen delays.
- Our Restriction List is also available online.
Interstate Highway Restrictions
U.S. Highway Restrictions
Oregon Highway Restrictions
Receive free restriction letter notices by
signing up for email alerts.
- Under Subscription Topics scroll to “Motor Carrier”.
- Select “Over-Dimension Permit Road and Bridge Restriction Notices”.
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