Jefferson County supervisors postponed a decision on weight limits for 146th Boulevard after representatives from a local sand and gravel operation and area landowners raised concerns during the board’s meeting.
The Proposal
County Engineer DeWayne Heintz had recommended implementing a 20-ton weight restriction for commercial vehicles on 146th Boulevard in the county’s northeast section. Under the plan, trucks serving the Coppock Sand and Gravel facility could use the road when empty but would need to take alternate routes when loaded.
Heintz explained the measure aimed to protect the recently resurfaced roadway from premature deterioration caused by heavy vehicles.
Industry Concerns
Mike Totenhagen, representing Viking Aggregates, expressed frustration about receiving minimal advance notice of the proposed restriction. He told supervisors the regulation would significantly impact his company’s operations by forcing loaded trucks to detour an additional 10-20 minutes per trip, ultimately increasing costs that would be passed to customers.
Caleb Morss, Viking Aggregates’ operations manager, requested the board delay any action until more comprehensive data could be collected about traffic patterns on the road.
Identifying the Problem
Supervisor Joe Ledger questioned whether the sand company would consider contributing to road maintenance costs given the wear caused by its trucks.
Totenhagen responded by pointing out that livestock haulers also frequently use the roadway, questioning how much damage could be attributed to sand trucks versus agricultural traffic.
The discussion revealed conflicting observations about road usage. Heintz said his daytime monitoring showed more dump trucks than grain haulers. However, meeting attendees noted that hog trucks typically travel at night, meaning daytime observations wouldn’t capture the full picture.
Finding Middle Ground
Ledger acknowledged the importance of road preservation and fiscal responsibility but expressed discomfort with a measure that appeared to single out one business.
Heintz agreed there was no urgency requiring immediate action, suggesting the matter could be revisited in spring.
Supervisor Lee Dimmitt emphasized the substantial expense of maintaining roads and bridges, stressing the county’s obligation to prevent unnecessary wear. He proposed conducting a comprehensive traffic study in 2026 to determine which types of vehicles use the road most frequently. This includes doing a traffic count of all vehicle traffic in the spring and summer seasons when both industries are at their peak.
Board Action
The supervisors unanimously approved conducting a traffic count to gather data before making any decisions about weight restrictions. The study will help officials better understand usage patterns and determine the most equitable approach to protecting the county’s infrastructure investment while minimizing impacts on local businesses.
Balancing Fairness and Preservation
Following the meeting, Dimmitt elaborated on his concerns about the road’s durability.
“From my perspective, I would like to know what the vehicle count is on 146th. I also am concerned about the damage that would occur on the sealcoat,” Dimmitt said. “If the sand company is running 25-30 50,000-pound trucks a day, that translates to 1.5 million pounds a day. Sealcoat shifts with heavy weight, especially out toward edges, so I am wanting to be fair but trying to preserve the road at the same time.”
The traffic study will provide the data needed to make an informed decision that balances the needs of local businesses with the county’s responsibility to maintain its infrastructure investments.
