CASTAIC : ‘Weigh in Motion’ System for Trucks to Be Built

Caltrans has accepted bids for a “Weigh in Motion” system along the Golden State Freeway in Castaic that would do just about what it advertises--weigh trucks without having them pull onto scales.

Although California transportation officials say it is a high-tech device for monitoring wear and tear on state roads, area truckers call it a prelude to more traffic citations for carrying too much weight.

The state Department of Transportation hopes to award the contract for installation of the $200,000 system by the end of August. Engineers say it can track how much weight is rolling over state roads and test how different paving materials are holding up.

Traditional scale facilities require truckers to pull off the road to be weighed. For the Weigh in Motion system, 24-inch-wide steel plates are inserted flush with the concrete in a four-inch trough across all eight lanes of the highway.

Caltrans says the system will not be used to issue citations to drivers.