The Hudson Board of Selectmen received a proposal during its Aug. 13 meeting from Hudson Police Chief, Tad Dionne, regarding limiting truck traffic in Town.
“We had a robust Aug. 8 meeting with the highway safety committee about Speare Road,” Dionne told the Board of Selectmen.
He explained that in a month period they had four accidents at the bend and they had come up with some potential ways to help reduce issues.
“The Highway Safety Committee has recommended prohibiting Through Truck Traffic (defined as any commercial vehicle, 1 1/2 tons or heavier, other than those commercial vehicles which are engaged in making local deliveries or pickups on a restricted street or street that is directly connected to a restricted street) in both directions of travel and at all hours of everyday from Kimball Hill Road to Bush Hill Road as described in § 317-34 Schedule VII,” Dionne wrote in a memo to the Board of Selectmen.
In his memo, Dionne explained that there are different ordinances related to truck traffic in town.
One of those states: “It shall be unlawful for any person to operate any truck in any manner or at any time or on any day indicated on any of the streets or parts of streets described in Schedule VII (§ 317-34), when such truck is of a type indicated in § 317-34 and defined in this section or when such truck is larger or heavier than the maximum size or weight indicated in Schedule VIl for that street or part of a street.”
The other is titled § 317-34 Schedule VII: Truck, Commercial Vehicle and Heavy Vehicle Limitations, which states “In accordance with the provisions of § 317-13F, trucks shall be restricted from the following streets and parts of streets in the manner and to the extent indicated (in the schedule VII list).”
“Schedule VII describes the list of streets that have limited or no access, which direction of the road at to which extent,” Dionne wrote.
He said that as part of the proposal, they were also looking to be able to add Speare Road to the list of streets with limitations.
“We are also requesting that Speare Road be added to § 317-34 Schedule VII, the schedule of listed streets with Truck, Commercial Vehicle, and Heavy vehicle Limitations,” Dionne explained in the memo.
In addition, Dionne said they were looking to have a sign installed.
“We are further requesting that a sign prohibiting such through truck travel be installed at the entrances Speare Road by Kimball Hill Road and Speare Road by Bush Hill Road,” Dionne wrote in a memo.
It was explained by Dionne that in order to make the changes, they would need to go to a public hearing first which he was requesting that they give permission to do, saying there are many concerns with the road.
“It’s just a non-conforming road at this point,” Dionne said.
It was noted by Dionne that in terms of enforcement purposes they are going to be looking at “larger vehicles,” and it won’t affect anyone who lives on the road.
The Board of Selectmen unanimously approved sending the proposal to a public hearing.
The next Board of Selectmen meeting is slated to take place on Aug. 27 at 7 p.m.
