BERNARDSTON — Bernardston resident Frank Ribeiro proposed enacting an ordinance to limit truck traffic on town roads during a Board of Selectmen meeting Wednesday.
Ribeiro, who lives on Hoe Shop Road, explained he has observed large, noisy construction vehicles from out of town traveling back and forth on his road and other local roads like Adams Road and River Street. Ribeiro said he’s seen the trucks on a daily basis for the past three weeks.
He expressed concern for walkers, runners, bicyclists and horseback riders who travel along the local roads, as he said the drivers often speed and the vehicles would have difficulty stopping. Often, what the trucks are transporting, like rocks, fall out en route, also posing a danger.
Ribeiro proposed enacting an ordinance that would allow for only local deliveries on town roads, and would require non-local traffic to use Interstate 91 or Routes 5 and 10. Exceptions would be made for construction projects on town roads.
“There’s no reason for people to not take the state highway,” Ribeiro said. “We want happy neighbors, we want a good community, we want a quiet environment.”
An ordinance could be economically beneficial for Bernardston, Ribeiro said, as the town would have to repair its small bridges and local roads more frequently to support large vehicles. The town is not responsible for repairs on state highways.
The Board of Selectmen was supportive of the idea, so long as they can devise an enforceable ordinance.
“There are a lot of towns that have (ordinances) like that,” Board of Selectmen Chairman Andrew Girard said. “I think we can look into it.”
Girard asked Town Coordinator Hugh Campbell to research towns with similar ordinances, and the board will discuss the idea again at its next meeting. The ordinance would need to be approved by residents during a special town meeting and approved by Attorney General Maura Healey.