SHENANDOAH HEIGHTS - Due to increased truck traffic on some streets in the Altamont section of West Mahanoy Township, there will soon be weight limits on those streets.
The township supervisors voted at Tuesday's meeting to advertise the "Motor Vehicle Weight Limit Ordinance," which will impose weight limits on three roads, provide for permits that are issued for the movement of vehicles in excess of restrictions and set penalties for violations.
"Up in the Altamont sections, there are tractor-trailers and tri-axles going through residential areas, so we're going to put weight limits on those roads," Chairman Paul "Pepper" Martin said.
According to the proposed ordinance (2014-1), the purpose is that the supervisors "have determined that the roads herein designated may be damage or destroyed unless use of vehicles is prohibited or the permissible size or weight is reduced."
The subject of heavy truck traffic using local streets to connect from Morea Road to Lehigh Avenue has also been raised at Frackville Borough Council meetings.
The gross weight limit will be 10 tons on the following streets:
- Line Street (T-862) between Industrial Road and East Pine Street
- Willow Street (T-845) between South Line Street and Morea Road
- Chestnut Street between South Line Street and Morea Road.
Exemptions to the restrictions include local traffic, such as emergency vehicles (fire department, police, ambulance, blood delivery and armed forces emergency vehicles), township public works vehicles, local delivery vehicles, residential solid waste trucks, school buses, contracting vehicles for construction and maintenance of a posted highway and other vehicles going to or coming from a residence.
The township may issue permits for motor vehicles or combinations of size and weight in excess of the restrictions in order to cover the cost of anticipated or probable repairs and/or restoration caused by the permitted movement of vehicles. Signs will also be placed along the designated streets warning of the weight restriction.
In other business, Martin encouraged residents to clean around their properties now that the winter is over.
"Now is a good time for people to begin cleaning up of their properties before the summertime," Martin said.
The supervisors approved a request from Our Lady of Mount Carmel Roman Catholic Church in Shenandoah to clear an area in the township north of the church on West Washington Street for the fireworks display on July 20. The fireworks are part of a three-day celebration of the parish's 100th anniversary. The parish will clear the area at its expense.
The supervisors also approved the county repository sale of property at 100 Schuylkill Ave. in Shenandoah Heights to Jeremy Hunter of Schuylkill County Properties LLC.