MULGRAVE: Roadway debris has caused safety concerns for drivers in Mulgrave during the colder months.
Last week, representatives from the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal (DTIR) attended the May meeting of Mulgrave Town Council to address residents’ concerns about rocks, mud and other road debris left behind by trucks in the town.
“We’ve had some complaints from residents driving on the highway, some concern about trucks hauling a lot of rock and salt going out of Mulgrave ,” said Mulgrave mayor Ralph Hadley following the meeting.
“They were concerned for safety reasons. There was an accident there on the turn with some debris on the roads.”
Blaise Cameron, regional manager of vehicle transportation inspection for DTIR said the debris is caused by trucks pulling out of the scale house in Mulgrave.
“When they come back out onto the highway, their tires collect mud, gravel, and debris, and when they pull out on the road, that material is left on the highway,” said Cameron.
“It’s moist, muddy material, so it has caused the road to be a little slippery at times, and where it’s on a turn, everything kind of adheres to the problem.”
Cameron said it was not an issue of trucks leaking debris or carrying oversized loads.
“We did some periodic checks roadside and also we had escorted vehicles to our compliance station, where it was easier and safer to weigh them,” said Cameron. “They were all under the allowable weight.”
Cameron said he has contacted Harvey Van Zutphen of Zutphen Contractors, the company that operates many of the trucks used in the area.
“He talked to the scale guard, I believe, and they provided cleanup for the site at the time,” said Cameron. “Once he was made aware of the situation, he did his due diligence to try to fix it ASAP.”
Cameron said he was invited to present at the council meeting to make people aware of the regulations around commercial vehicles, as well as to explain his role as vehicle transportation inspector. He added that he will continue to monitor the situation in Mulgrave when trucks are active.
“We’ll do periodic inspections on the vehicles and also perform drive-by patrols in that area,” he said.
Cameron added that any residents who notice an issue can contact him, or call the compliance station in Auld’s Cove.
Mulgrave CAO Jim Davis said the town is considering installing signs to warn drivers of potential hazards while preventing excessive speeds.
“You’re always going to get concerned when there are individual drivers involved,” said Davis. “You have to try your best to deal with the situation and keep giving the contracting party a heads-up to talk to the drivers to use care and caution when they’re driving within town limits.”