New weight restriction in place limiting vehicles on Sullivan County road

Montoursville, Pa. – A weight restriction is now in effect on a local road in Sullivan County, according to PennDOT, limiting the weight of vehicles to under 10 tons.

A permanent, year-round, 10-ton weight restriction is in place on Dushore Overton Road/Overton Road (Route 4018) in Dushore Borough, Forks and Cherry townships between Hottensteins Hill Road (Route 4016) and South German Street (Route 220). It is a 13-mile stretch of road heading west/northwest from Dushore toward Overton.

The posting is being made based on a traffic-and-engineering study indicating that this highway may be damaged by vehicles that exceed the restriction.

"The weight of electric vehicles and other passenger vehicles (motorcycles, cars, SUVs/Pick-ups, etc.) is not a primary consideration during pavement designs or traffic studies," according to a PennDOT Central Office spokesperson. "The weight of larger vehicles such as tractor trailers and buses are a primary driver in designs."

The average standard car weighs roughly 1.5 tons, and an average pick-up truck comes in around 3 tons. Vehicles exceeding the 10-ton limit are, for example, charter buses, construction vehicles, and tractor trailers.

The restriction does not include school buses, emergency vehicles, and local-delivery trucks, PennDOT said.

PennDOT first announced the upcoming restriction on August 8, advising the public that the roadway would be posted by the end of August.