Skip to main content

Governor Whitmer Signs Executive Order Temporarily Lifting Weight Restrictions on Roads

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

March 16, 2020 

Contact: BrownT56@michigan.gov 

  

Governor Whitmer Signs Executive Order Temporarily Lifting Weight Restrictions on Roads 

 

LANSING, Mich. -- Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed Executive Order 2020-12, temporarily lifting weight and other delivery-related restrictions for vehicles carrying essential supplies to mitigate the spread of Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19). The executive order is effective immediately and extends until Monday, April 13 at 11:59pm. 

 

Under the governor’s executive order, all state and local seasonal load restrictions are suspended for deliveries that meet immediate needs for: medical supplies and equipment related to the testing, diagnosis, and treatment of COVID-19; supplies and equipment necessary for community safety, sanitation, and the prevention of community transmission of COVID-19 such as masks, gloves, hand sanitizer, soap, and disinfectants; food for the emergency restocking of stores; equipment, supplies, and people necessary to establish and manage temporary housing, quarantine, and isolation facilities related to the COVID-19 emergency; people designated by federal, state, or local authorities for medical, isolation, or quarantine purposes; and people necessary to provide other medical or emergency services, the supply of which may be affected by the COVID-19 emergency. 

 

“This is a crisis unlike any we’ve dealt with before, and we must do everything we can to ensure our communities have the resources they need to get through it as safely as possible,” said Governor Whitmer. “This order will help us deliver the supplies people need to slow the spread of coronavirus and protect the most people we can. It’s crucial that during this time, we continue to work together to protect our families and loved ones. I will keep working with leaders across state government to put the best interest of Michiganders first.” 

 

“These steps ensure that state, county, city and village road agencies are collaborating to be sure supplies vital to supporting COVID-19 relief efforts can be delivered quickly and efficiently,” said Michigan Department Of Transportation Director Paul C. Ajegba. “We are going to get through this by working together and taking collective action for the greater good.”

 

Additionally under executive order 2020-12, from now until April 13 at 11:59 pm, all state and local road agencies must work quickly to process permits that allow non-seasonal load restrictions to be exceeded for deliveries that meet immediate needs. Also, all state and local restrictions on the noise and timing of loading and deliveries are suspended for loading and deliveries that meet immediate needs. 

 

Patients with confirmed infection have reportedly had mild to severe respiratory illness with symptoms of:  

  • Fever   
  • Cough   
  • Shortness of breath   

 

The best prevention for viruses, such as influenza, the common cold or COVID-19 is to:  

  • If you think you have been exposed to COVID-19, call your health care provider. If you do not have a health care provider, call the nearest hospital.   
  • Wash your hands often with soap and warm water for 20 seconds. If not available, use hand sanitizer.     
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.     
  • Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or upper sleeve when coughing or sneezing.     
  • Avoid contact with people who are sick.     
  • If you are sick, stay home, and avoid contact with others.     
  • Stay at least 6 feet away from others when in a public setting.   

 

Information around this outbreak is changing rapidly. The latest information is available at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus and CDC.gov/Coronavirus.  

 

For those who have questions about the state’s actions to mitigate the spread of coronavirus, please call the COVID-19 Hotline at 1-888-535-6136 between 8AM - 5PM daily. 

 

To view executive order 2020-12, click the link below: 

  

This press release will be translated and made available in Arabic and Spanish at www.michigan.gov/whitmer.  

###