By Drew M. Bailey, Community Reporter
Northborough – The town's recent request for a truck exclusion has been answered by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT). Town Engineer Fred Litchfield presented the findings during the Jan. 9 Board of Selectmen meeting.
Litchfield said that the MassDOT granted the truck exclusion for Collins Road, but not for the surrounding streets that connect to it. This was the expected result; although the town requested that Maple Street, Brigham Street, Ridge Road and Collins Road all be excluded; only Collins Road actually met the state's requirements. The others had been included in the request because they are necessary routes for accessing Collins Road.
Town Administrator John Coderre said that the best option at this point was to accept the Collins Road exemption, and continue to monitor traffic on the other streets. The town will post signs warning of the exclusion on Maple Street, Brigham Street, and Ridge Road, which may deter some truck traffic. Ten warning signs will be placed in the area.
The exclusion does not disallow vehicles conducting business at addresses on Collins Road, such as delivery or service vehicles. The limits for the exclusion are commercial vehicles weighing 2.5 tons and above, with six or more wheels.
