Mainers to lobby in Washington for weight limit change

The Maine Motor Transport Association has organized a group of about 20 Maine businesspeople to travel to Washington, D.C., next Tuesday and Wednesday to lobby Maine’s congressional delegation and federal agencies on what they see as the importance of increasing the allowed weight of commercial vehicles traveling on Maine’s Interstate 95 between Augusta and Houlton. The weight limit on that road is now 80,000 pounds, whereas the rest of the interstate system in New England and Canada allows limits of 99,000 or 100,000 pounds.

The group plans to argue that the change would result in fewer accidents, improved safety, decreased congestion in town centers, and would let trucks travel on roads designed for them. Such a change would save the state $1 million to $1.7 million a year in paving costs.