Milton council passes ordinance on truck traffic
Milton Town Council unanimously approved an ordinance that would restrict large truck traffic within town to local deliveries only.
Under terms of the ordinance, passed at council’s June 2 meeting, vehicles weighing more than 5,000 pounds with two axles or more would be restricted to local deliveries on Chestnut Street between Front Street and Harbeson Road; Lavinia Street between Mulberry Street and Sand Hill Road; Mulberry Street between Harbeson Road and Route 16; Union and Front streets between Harbeson and Cave Neck roads; and Union and Federal streets between Route 16 and Sand Hill Road.
The idea behind the ordinance is to prevent large trucks from using downtown Milton as a cut-through to points on Route 1, Route 5 or Route 16.
Council had discussed the ordinance in May but tabled it to allow for additional work. That work included defining local service as a point where freight originates, terminates or is handled. Additional exceptions include a facility for food, fuel, repair, rest, a location where commercial motor carriers maintain an operating facility, and a location for repairs.
The town drew up the ordinance in cooperation with the Delaware Department of Transportation. In concert with the ordinance, DelDOT plans to overhaul the truck signage program on the approaches into Milton. The signs regarding truck alternate routes will be removed, and the signs regarding truck restrictions in downtown Milton will be removed and replaced with new ones. The signs will be made by DelDOT, and installed and maintained by the town.
Ryan Mavity covers Milton and the court system. He is married to Rachel Swick Mavity and has two kids, Alex and Jane. Ryan started with the Cape Gazette all the way back in February 2007, previously covering the City of Rehoboth Beach. A native of Easton, Md. and graduate of Towson University, Ryan enjoys watching the Baltimore Ravens, Washington Capitals and Baltimore Orioles in his spare time.
