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July 5, 2000 9:40 AM, EDT

The Idaho Department of Transportation Board voted to add nearly 30 more state highways to the list of roads that trucks pulling 53-foot trailers may travel without a special permit.

The June 23 vote came as a result of a bill signed by Gov. Kempthorne in April. The legislation the state DOT the opportunity to add to the network of roads designated for unfettered passage of 53s.

The state uses a color-coded map to alert truckers to which roads they may travel with 53-footers without a permit, on which permits are required and which roads are off limits.

Previously, main state highways and Interstates were the only roads open to such trailers without a permit. The transportation department added routes that serve regional and local points or complete a network loop. However, the center of U.S. 95, the only north-south connection within the state, is still not part of this system.

For the full story, see the July 3 print edition of Transport Topics. .