“Congress is contemplating increasing truck weights to 91,000 pounds from the current national standard of 80,000 pounds. As mayor of Kentwood and a professional engineer, I am deeply concerned about the surge in heavier trucks that would likely reduce the service life of the country’s already crumbling infrastructure if proposed legislation like H.R. 3372 passes.”
“To address these concerns, the state and federal government must invest in rigorous testing protocols for both concrete and asphalt pavements and ensure the safety of our existing bridge inventory. Implementing test sections with numerous cross-sections and varying loads would provide invaluable data to assess the long-term effects of heavier trucks on pavement surfaces.”