| Field | Detail |
|---|---|
| Status | Active — 2026 spring posted road restrictions confirmed in effect; 2026 local listings present for Island Falls and Standish; interactive map showing currently posted state roads is live |
| Status Timestamp | March 4, 2026 at 11:23 p.m. EST (page retrieved) |
| Coverage | Mixed — State and state-aid highways posted by MaineDOT (Regions 1–5); local roads posted independently by individual municipalities on a voluntary basis; not all municipalities participate |
| Effective Dates | No fixed calendar dates published — imposed annually based on freeze/thaw conditions; lifted on a rolling, road-by-road basis by region |
| Weight Limits | Specific per-road limits not published on the index page — consult the MaineDOT Map Viewer or regional/municipal PDFs for road-specific values; penalty threshold applies to operation above gross registered weight per Title 29-A M.R.S.A. § 2395 |
| Key Roads | State highways and state-aid highways across MaineDOT Regions 1–5; Hancock County and Penobscot County Unorganized Territories (separate county PDFs); participating municipal local roads |
| Exemptions | Limited Load Permit available via Application for Exemption Certificate (DOC) — download from the MaineDOT posted roads page; eligible vehicle types and commodities not enumerated on the index page |
| Penalties | Traffic infraction — fine of not less than $250, which may not be suspended (Title 29-A M.R.S.A. § 2395, subsection 7) |
| Contact | Maine Department of Transportation — MaineDOT Posted Roads page; Penobscot County Unorganized Territory: (207) 942-8566; municipal contacts vary by town (see directory below) |
| Primary Status Source URL | https://www.maine.gov/dot/programs-services/local-roads-and-projects/posted-roads |
Affected Road Categories
Spring weight restrictions in Maine apply across three distinct road categories with separate posting authorities:
- State highways — posted and lifted exclusively by MaineDOT; municipalities have no authority over these designations
- State-aid highways — also under MaineDOT authority, even when passing through a municipality
- Local municipal roads — posted independently by individual towns and cities; authority limited to local roads only; participation is voluntary and listings submitted to MaineDOT are not comprehensive
Roads where the posted designation has been lifted appear in MaineDOT regional PDFs under Tentatively Posted Roads (Regions 1–5). Roads currently active appear on the interactive map under State Roads Currently Posted.
How to Find Currently Posted Roads
MaineDOT does not publish a single statewide start or end date. Use these tools to verify current status for a specific road:
- Interactive map (state roads): MaineDOT Map Viewer — real-time display of currently posted state roads and roads that will be posted
- Regional PDFs: MaineDOT Regions 1–5 documents list posted and tentatively posted state and state-aid roads
- Municipal PDFs/DOCs: Individual town and city documents linked from the MaineDOT posted roads page; 2026 confirmed listings for Island Falls and Standish; all other municipal listings are from prior years
- County PDFs: Hancock County and Penobscot County Unorganized Territories maintain separate posted road documents
- Cumulative Thaw Index: Northeast Regional Climate Center — tracks freeze/thaw conditions driving posting decisions
- Weather resources: Gray NWS (southern ME) and Caribou NWS (northern ME)
2026 Active Local Listings
The following municipalities have submitted posted road documents confirmed for the 2026 season. All other municipal listings linked from MaineDOT are from prior years:
- Island Falls — 2026 listing confirmed
- Standish — 2026 listing confirmed
Additional municipalities with historical listings (year varies) indexed on the MaineDOT page include: Auburn, Augusta, Bangor, Bath, Biddeford, Brewer, Brunswick, Brownville, Dallas Plantation, Denmark, Falmouth, Fort Fairfield, Freeport, Frenchville, Gardiner, Gouldsboro, Kennebunk, Lamoine, Lincoln, Livermore Falls, Millinocket, North Yarmouth, Norway, Orono, Pittston, Presque Isle, Randolph, Raymond, Rockland, Rumford, Scarborough, Sidney, Topsham, Union, Wells, Winslow.
County-level listings: Hancock County (PDF) and Penobscot County Unorganized Territories (PDF) — contact for Penobscot County UT: (207) 942-8566.
Municipal Contact Directory
Contact the relevant municipality directly to confirm current local road posting status:
| Municipality | Phone |
|---|---|
| Auburn | (207) 333-6670 |
| Augusta | (207) 626-2435 |
| Bangor | (207) 992-4501 |
| Bath | (207) 443-8357 |
| Biddeford | (207) 282-1579 |
| Brewer | (207) 989-7800 |
| Brunswick | (207) 725-6654 |
| Brownville | (207) 965-2561 |
| Denmark | (207) 452-2310 |
| Falmouth | (207) 781-3919 |
| Fort Fairfield | (207) 472-3884 |
| Freeport | (207) 865-4461 |
| Frenchville | (207) 543-6402 |
| Gardiner | (207) 582-4408 |
| Gouldsboro | (207) 963-5589 |
| Kennebunk | (207) 985-4811 |
| Lamoine | (207) 667-2242 |
| Lincoln | (207) 794-6658 or (207) 794-3372 |
| Norway | (207) 890-2639 |
| Orono | (207) 889-6101 |
| Penobscot County UT | (207) 942-8566 |
| Pittston | (207) 582-4438 or (207) 242-3838 |
| Presque Isle | (207) 764-2560 |
| Raymond | (207) 653-3641 |
| Rockland | (207) 594-0320 |
| Rumford | (207) 364-4577 |
| Scarborough | (207) 730-4402 |
| Sidney | (207) 547-3913 |
| Topsham | (207) 725-1728 |
| Union | (207) 785-3411 |
| Wells | (207) 646-3014 |
| Winslow | (207) 872-1972 |
Exemptions and Permits
- A Limited Load Permit (Application for Exemption Certificate — ApplicationforExemptionCertificate1503.doc) is available through MaineDOT for operators needing to travel posted roads
- Eligible vehicle types and commodity-specific exemptions are not listed on the portal index page — consult the permit application directly via the MaineDOT posted roads page
Penalties
- Violation is a traffic infraction under Title 29-A M.R.S.A. § 2395 (Chapter 308)
- Fine: not less than $250 — this minimum may not be suspended by the court (subsection 7)
Legal Authority and Additional Resources
- Governing statute: Title 29-A M.R.S.A., Section 2395 (Chapter 308)
- Posted Roads Brochure (PDF, 2020) available through the MaineDOT posted roads page
- FAQs available via the MaineDOT posted roads page (FAQ_4.pdf)
- Cross-border operators: New Hampshire DOT Spring Thaw Restrictions Viewer also linked from the MaineDOT page
Source: Maine Department of Transportation — Posted Roads. Page retrieved: March 4, 2026 at 11:23 p.m. EST. Status confirmed active based on 2026 local listings (Island Falls, Standish) and live interactive map displaying currently posted state roads.
