Cut-through traffic generated by the closures of Ridgefield Road and Westbard Avenue at River Road continues to plague the Springfield neighborhood in Bethesda. As most people with common sense predicted, signs are not deterring drivers who understandably balk at Montgomery County's official detours that would take them miles out of their way. Another prediction that came true? 18-wheelers with business on Westbard Avenue, banned from one of the detours - Little Falls Parkway, are taking to Springfield Drive and the upper blocks of Ridgefield in strong numbers.
A Frito-Lay semi, which regularly delivers snacks to the Giant on Westbard, was seen rolling through the neighborhood in recent days. It struck tree limbs as it made its way along streets not meant for truck traffic.
Montgomery County has a new solution - yet another sign. "No trucks over 10,000 lbs," the sign on Springfield Drive reads. It won't work, either, for two reasons. One, we know drivers ignore signs. Second, the sign is placed where it will only be seen after the truck driver has committed to entering Springfield Drive. The only positive thing about the sign is that it represents the County's first public acknowledgement that the big rigs are indeed rolling through the neighborhood.
4 comments:
There needs to be some enforcement. You are correct that those truck drivers do not care what the law is or what the sign says. How do I know? I live on the 5500 block of Westbard where it has always been illegal for trucks over 10,000 lbs to drive. Yet I estimate 20-30 trucks per day would drive right past my house. These would include full-size semi-truck/trailors. Never saw one get a ticket. If it's illegal in that residential neighborhood and on Little Falls Pkwy let them go on Little Falls for least impact.
The sign really needs to be on River or on the corner. By the time an 18 wheeler sees this current sign, it's too late.
The detour signs in River by Westbard point drivers to the Little Falls Parkway detour - where trucks are not allowed. I don't blame the truckers - the detour is poorly handled by the county roads people.
@ 8:39 I feel your pain. As Robert has been telling folks for a long time, this 18 month (at a minimum) burden on the surrounding neighborhoods isn't fair. Blaming the truckers won't work IDC where you put the sign warning them. Drive the detour and you'll see why.
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