Christopher Malone
Town, village and business reporter
Tractor-trailer drivers approaching Skaneateles may want to start ignoring their GPS instructions.
In the near future, not doing so will take them past new signs showing a truck inside a red "no" symbol.
The signs are the result of a new law passed April 7 by the town that will ban tractor-trailers and any other trucks heavier than 5 tons from 27 town roads, mainly those connecting state and county roads.
Supervisor Chris Legg told Ë®¹ûÅÉAV the law has been met with praise from the community.Â
"Trucks and cars on town roads don't really mix," he said.
A previous law had banned such traffic on five roads in order to prevent contamination of the Skaneateles Lake watershed.
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This one is meant to prevent accidents and costly maintenance, Legg said. Many of the town's roads are narrow, which in just the last few months has caused a truck to overturn after hitting a curb and a collision between a tractor-trailer and a cement truck that caused a power outage that affected the town and village.Â
The town has also seen an increase in repair and repaving projects over the last decade due to the wear and tear on roads caused by the trucks, Legg said.Â
Failure to obey the new law could result in fines of up to $250 and points on a driver's license.
Exceptions to the law include delivery and agricultural vehicles. Route 20, as a state road, will remain open to tractor-trailers.
Legg said he understands that tractor-trailer drivers are often looking for the fastest route or shortcuts, but the impact is no longer feasible for the town.Â
"Skaneateles is not opposed to trucks," he said, "but they need to stay on the designated roads."
Skaneateles roads where trucks heavier than 5 tons are now banned
- Andrews Road
- Cecil Arthur Road
- Chapman Road
- Clapp Road
- County Line Road
- Crow Hill Road
- East Street Road
- Fennell Street (Old Seneca Turnpike to village line)
- Fisher Road
- Foster Road
- Franklin Road
- Giles Road
- Gully Road
- Gully Road offshoot
- Heifer Road
- Hencoop Road
- Highland Avenue
- Hoyt Road
- Irish Road
- Jewett Road
- Lacy Road (Benson Road to Route 359)
- Masters Road
- Mill Road
- Miller Street
- Railroad Street Extension
- Reynolds Road
- Sheldon Road
- Thorne School
- Van Camp Road
- Visions Drive
- West Lake Street (village line to Route 41A)
- Weeks Road (Hencoop Road to Route 395)
Staff writer Christopher Malone can be reached at (315) 282-2232 or christopher.malone@lee.net.
Christopher Malone
Town, village and business reporter
