As the heavy-trucks hearing continues:

Stuart Davis, executive director of the Idaho Association of Highway Districts, spoke in favor “unequivocally” of SB 1064, regarding making the southern Idaho heavy-trucks pilot project permanent. “We do oppose SB 1117,” he said. “There is not enough data to support extending those routes up north. There is not a pilot project.”

Sen. Bob Nonini, R-Coeur d’Alene, asked Davis if SB 1117 would create costs for local highway districts. “Of course there would be,” Davis responded. “If you’re going to ask ITD or the local system to perform an engineering study to decide whether a road can withstand that additional weight, somebody’s got to pay for that study.”

Jerry Deckard, lobbyist for Associated Logging Contractors of Idaho, spoke against any “proposal to put oversize trucks on North Idaho highways.” He cited safety, geography, climate and access. “There is a significant difference in these conditions from southern to northern Idaho,” he said.