Truck Exclusion Back on the Table for Chestnut Street in North Reading

The Board of Selectmen approved a truck exclusion for Chestnut Street Monday night after reconsidering their decision regarding installing .

Due to a problem with truck traffic, residents on Chestnut and New streets submitted a  in July of 2010, and the Board of Selectmen approved the installation of four speed tables on Chestnut Street as a solution for the issue in May. 

According to  (DPW) Director Dick Carnevale, the speed tables slow down speed, but do not help traffic volume or deter trucks. Carnevale discussed alternative options with the selectmen Monday night:  

1. Education and enforcement, no physical devices will be installed. Monitor and evaluate the area every 30 days.
2. Education and enforcement, plus installation of a temporary island near the park and one speed table in the vicinity of the crest of Chestnut street and monitor and evaluate the area every 30 days. 
3. This option is the same as option number 2, but also includes a second speed table installed in the vicinity of the DPW garage.
4. Education and enforcement plus the installation of four speed tables, and to monitor and evaluate the area every 30 days.

There is also the option of going ahead with the truck exclusion, which according to Carnevale would take four weeks or less. He mentioned that getting approval for the truck exclusion does not mean that the town has to use it.

"Just because we get the truck exclusion doesn’t mean we have to implement it," Carnevale said.

When submitting the application for the truck exclusion, the town has to submit an alternate route, within the community, in order for it to be approved. The alternate would be Route 62 to Haverhill Street.

If the truck exclusion is approved, truck route signs will be posted on Route 62 and Haverhill Street and truck exclusion signs will be posted on Chestnut Street.

Acting Fire Chief William Warnock was pleased with the board's decision to reconsider the speed tables.

"The fire department has never been for anything that will slow us down," he said, referring to the speed tables.

The selectmen voted in favor of the truck exclusion, and the new recommended route for trucks will be Route 62 to Haverhill Street.

"We plan to submit the heavy truck exclusion request as soon as possible," Carnevale said.