The Washington State Patrol (WSP) is reminding truckers that commercial vehicle chain requirements will go into effect this week.
On Monday, WSP issued a reminder about the state’s commercial vehicle chain requirements going into effect on Friday.
From November 1 to April 1, all vehicles and combinations of vehicles over 10,000 pounds required to carry sufficient tire chains on the following routes:
- I-90 between North Bend (MP 32) and Ellensburg (MP 101)
- I-82 between Ellensburg Exit 3 (MP 3.00) and Selah Exit 26 (MP 26.00)
- SR-97 between (MP 145) and Junction
- SR-2 between Dryden (MP 108) and Index (MP 36)
- SR-12 between Packwood (MP 135) and Naches (MP 187)
- SR-97 between junction SR-14 (MP 4) Columbia River and Toppenish (MP 59)
- SR-410 from Enumclaw to Naches
- SR-20 between Tonasket (MP 262) and Kettle Falls (MP 342)
- SR-155 between Omak (MP 79) and Nespelem (MP 45)
- SR-970 between (MP 0) and (MP 10)
- SR-14 (MP 18) to Junction 97 (MP 102)
- SR-542 Mt Baker Highway between (MP 22.91) and (MP 57.26)
Sufficient tire chains are defined by the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) as follows:
All vehicles over 10,000 pounds GVW shall carry a minimum of 2 extra chains for use in the event that road conditions require the use of more chains or that chains in use are broken or otherwise made useless, WAC 204-24-050 (2) (f).
Approved chains for vehicles over 10,000 pounds gross vehicle weight shall have at least two side chains attached sufficient cross chains of hardened metal so that at least one cross-chain is in contact with the road surface at all times. Plastic chains shall not be allowed. The Washington State Patrol may approve other devices as chains if the devices are equivalent to regular chains in performance (cable chains allowable).
Vehicles making local deliveries as indicated on bills of lading and not crossing the mountain pass are exempt from this requirement if operating outside of the chain required area, WSDOT states.