Parkside Drive in Mount Forest may soon be a truck free zone, if Wellington North council pass a bylaw expected at a future council meeting.
On Oct. 23, council directed staff to table a bylaw that would prohibit heavy trucks on the road that is commonly used as an informal bypass of the Highway 6 (Main Street) and 89 (Queen Street) intersection.
Interim public works director Derek McCaughan presented a report on traffic data that was requested by council.
The data was collected over a 24 hour period on Oct. 5 on Parkside Drive between Main Street and Queen Street.
The data showed that the total volume north and southbound was 885 vehicles.
Northbound, 20 vehicles travelled during the peak period 3 to 3:15pm.
“While 11 (1.2 per cent) motorists were travelling between 60km/h and 79km/h (highest speed recorded), the overall observed speeds are well within the 50km/h speed limit,” stated McCaughan in his report.
There were 22 trucks and school buses recorded as well.
McCaughan stated the truck activity is limited to neighbourhood delivery, however “it would appear Parkside Drive is being used by a number of truck drivers to circumvent the traffic signals at the intersection of Main Street and Queen Street.”
Staff recommended council prohibit truck traffic, except for local delivery trucks. The approximate cost is $500.
Council directed staff come back with a bylaw at a future council meeting.
