February 4, 2008
Winter Weight Limits Established on Rochester Roads
Beginning immediately, Rochester Public Works Department will be establishing temporary weight limits on selected city streets and roads. The City will be limiting the weight of vehicles that will be traveling the selected streets to 8 gross tons during the late winter and early spring months.
Initially, the street that will have temporary weight limits is: Chestnut Hill Road between Little Falls Bridge Road and Cross Road. Additional streets may be added as the snow melts and frost leaves the ground.
The following trucks are exempt from this restriction:
Trash trucks conducting their regular trash pickups,
Fuel oil delivery trucks of 1500 gallons capacity or less who have to make a delivery on the street,
City maintenance vehicles engaged in winter operations,
School busses conducting their normal student pick up and drop offs,
Emergency vehicles responding to an emergency situation.
All exempt overweight trucks shall not come any closer than 2 feet from the edge of pavement. If a delivery or a pick up is to be made, the truck shall remain in the middle of the travel lane and liberally use their flashers and any other warning device to notify a motorist of their intent to stop.
Truck owners other than the above, who have a compelling need to transit one of the weight-restricted roads can petition the Public Works Department by completing the required application. Applications can be obtained by calling the Rochester Public Works Office at (603) 332-4096 or by going to the Public Works page on the City of Rochester's website, which is www.rochesternh.net.
Motorists should be aware, that these vehicles will not pull over to the side of the "posted" road to pick up trash or deliver oil, but will remain in the middle of the travel lane when they stop. The City is making this a stipulation of the exemption because the edge of the road has the greatest risk of being damaged due to the added weight. It is the edge of the road that is the most saturated with water during the spring thaw and therefore at the greatest risk of damage.
The Department of Public Works will ask the Police Department to enforce these restrictions. Penalties will be consistent with those levied by the state.
The temporary weight limits will expire May 1st. unless eliminated earlier by Public Works' action.
Anyone with a question concerning the restrictions can call Rochester Public Works at (603) 332-4096, or visit the City's web site at www.rochesternh.net.
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