With that observation, Latah County, Idaho commissioners opted Wednesday to extend a countywide disaster declaration that has been recognized by the state. They also agreed to send comments to the Idaho Transportation Department opposing the possibility of oversize trucks traveling county highways. A letter to the department may be finalized as early as next week.
Allowing trucks weighing as much as 129,000 pounds on Idaho's interstate highway system became possible with 2016 state legislation. Last summer, an application process was established for trucking or shipping companies to be permitted to use sections of highways, said Adam Rush, public involvement coordinator for ITD.
The new process allows a company to submit a route application to ITD that includes the sections of highways to be used. Transportation officials then conduct an engineering analysis of the route to determine the condition of the highways and whether they can be used for the oversize trucks. A public comment period also is held locally.
Latah County commissioners noted Wednesday that Doug Andrus Distributing in Idaho Falls has applied to take a 129,000-pound truck from Bovill to Deary, then to Kendrick and finally to Lewiston. The route would affect sections of U.S. Highway 95, U.S. Highway 12 and state highways 3 and 8.
Parts of State Highway 3 are in danger of landslides, said Commissioner Dave McGraw.
"It's only a matter of time before one of these 129,000-pound trucks winds up on one of the north Latah County roads where it's not supposed to be, and then there's going to be some real damage this time of year," McGraw said.
Rush said trucks weighing as much as 129,000 pounds hit the pavement with less weight because they have extra axles. On 105,500-pound trucks - the current weight limit allowed on the highway system - two sets of the trailer's axles bear 16,250 pounds each, and two sets bear 14,250 pounds. On 129,000-pound trucks, two sets of axles carry 16,500 pounds, one bears 12,333 pounds, and two sets of axles carry 11,750 pounds each.
"Because they have additional axles added to them, they are having less of an impact than a 105,500-pound truck," Rush said.
After speaking with a number of trucking industry workers at a public meeting earlier this week, McGraw said none was in favor of allowing the oversize trucks, even with the additional axles.
"They're more concerned about the safety and the wear and tear," McGraw said.
For local jurisdictions that have concerns about the oversize trucks, Rush said it's up to the companies applying for route permits to address those issues.
"We're not going to force anything," he said.
The transportation department is accepting public comment on the route application until April 13.
"We encourage the people to give us their input and to give us their comments," Rush said. "It helps us to hear from the locals who use these highway routes day in and day out."
With highways already damaged by quickly fluctuating weather and flooding, and with more rain in the forecast, the commissioners also extended a disaster declaration for the county Wednesday. The initial declaration, approved by the commissioners last week, can only legally be in effect for a week. The extended declaration will last until the county determines the disaster has ended.
Commissioner Tom Lamar said the state recognized the county's disaster declaration late last week, making the county eligible to apply for emergency funding from the state.
It's not yet known how much state funding would be available, said Disaster Services Coordinator Mike Neelon. The state provides half of the funding needed to restore damaged infrastructure, with the county contributing the other half.
Neelon said he's still working on compiling the costs incurred by communities damaged by snow and flooding. Facing the most recent damage is Cow Creek Bridge in Genesee, which saw erosion of its surrounding embankment after the creek crested. Rock Creek Bridge in Potlatch also needs to be repaired, and communities are facing bigger overtime costs for snow removal.
"I think it's a good idea we are extending this," McGraw said of the disaster declaration.
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Embree may be contacted at cembree@lmtribune.com or (208) 669-1298. Follow her on Twitter @chelseaembree.
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