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Weigh-in-Motion scales refurbished to extend useful life

ITD’s Port of Entry system recently had work done on the three Weigh-In-Motion (WIM) scales in Idaho – in Boise and Lewiston – to prolong the useful life of the scales. The work, performed by the same contractor that installed the WIM scales, International Road Dynamics (IRD), involved removal of dirt and grease build-up and anything else that could hinder the WIM technology or the scales themselves.

All three scales are located in the highway pavement about one-half mile before the ports of entry at Lewiston, and eastbound and westbound on I-84 near the East Boise POE. The work is done at least annually under ITD’s scale-maintenance contract with IRD.

The WIM scales serve as a sorting tool. Vehicles with transponders that indicate current registration, permits and legal weights are allowed to continue on the highway and bypass manually operated scales. That allows Port of Entry Inspectors to deal with other vehicles that have weight, size and registration issues.

The maintenance work was completed May 12 at the East Boise POE and May 5 at Lewiston’s POE scale.

Scales in the locations at East Boise Port of Entry are 15 years old. How much longer the life span is increased is not known – but it can be significant. This much is known – the WIM scales have a replacement cost of approximately $30,000 each, so any efforts to prolong their life expectancy is worth the effort.