BROADALBIN- Vehicles weighing more than 15 tons no longer will be able to cut through the village unless they are picking up or delivering materials there.
The village board on Sept. 17 approved a law preventing the heavy vehicles from driving on certain roads.
Mayor Eugene Christopher said the village needed to enact the weight restriction because of the wear and tear on the roads and infrastructure.
“The buildings shake when the trucks pass by,” Christopher said.
Christopher said village officials are concerned sewer pipes under the roads are being damaged. He said the roads were not designed for great weight.
“Basically, roads that would be shortcuts through the village that weren’t designed for heavy loads [are affected by the new law],” said village Trustee Thomas Folts.
According to the law, Second Avenue, Saratoga Avenue, Bridge Street and East Broad Street will be posted with a 15-ton limit. The law says the weight limit for Second Avenue will include the stretch between West Main Street and Route 29. The limit for Saratoga Avenue will include the stretch from Bridge Street to Route 29. The law applies to all of Bridge Street and to East Broad Street from Route 29 to Bridge Street.
According to the minutes from the Sept. 17 village board meeting, residents of the village expressed concern about an increase in truck traffic. Some residents say trucks cut through the village to avoid the traffic circle on Route 29.
Folts said the law will not prevent deliveries or pickups, including those around the Fiber Conversion company on East Elm Street.
The law will go into effect once it’s filed with the state secretary of state, village officials said.
Christopher said signs will be put up informing people of the weight limit.
Arthur Cleveland can be reached at [email protected]
