RIDOT request to ban tractor trailers from certain roads denied for now

August 17, 2017 5:20 pm

By: Chloe Leshner

cleshner@abc6.com

@Cleshnerabc6

A road bump for a controversial plan to ban tractor trailers from certain state highways in Rhode Island. The State Traffic Commission put the ki-bosh on the DOT’s request, but even with that setback, the plan to keep big rigs off some roads still has some tread on it.

RIDOT wants to prevent tractor trailers from driving on 14 different roads throughout the state, saying its best for safety and infrastructure, but the Rhode Island Trucking Association is crying foul, calling it a "recipe for disaster."

"I just want to make sure that we cover all of our bases before we pass something," says Corporal William Corson, on the State Traffic Commission.

The DOT is requesting that trucks not travel on 14 different streets, saying its best for quality of life, safety and preserving the road ways.

"the areterials, while they are designed for a certain percentage of tractor trailer traffic, if people are just traveling through the area, through tractor trailers we’d rather have them on the interstates where the design of the pavement is to a greater extent," says commission secretary Steven Pristawa.

The listed routes are ones that would help truckers avoid the controversial tolls put in place by Governor Raimondo to help fix roads and bridges. RIDOT claims that’s not why they’re pushing this plan.

Christopher Maxwell, the President of Rhode Island’s Trucking Association with some choice words for RIDOT, calling today’s meeting a "sneak attempt to restrict commerce," lumping this move in with the truck tolls they’re so strongly against.

Representative Chippendale voiced a similar concern, saying re-routing tractor trailers could hurt local trucking businesses.

"It kills hours, it kills gas mileage, it kills time, if this guys losing an hour each way…that’s money," says Chippendale.

Meanwhile, Smithfield’s Town Engineer is voicing concern that cities and towns don’t have the information they need to move forward.

"We’d just like to understand how the state plans to do it, notifications signage and then what responsibilities will be burdened on the community for enforcement matters," says Kevin Cleary.

The commission did decide to reconsider the issue within the next few weeks.