The Town of Oyster Bay is looking to limit truck access on South Oyster Bay Road after local residents voiced their concerns.
Oyster Bay Town Councilwoman Rebecca M. Alesia announced last week that the town will seek to restrict the weight and length limitations of trucks that may traverse a portion of South Oyster Bay Road in the Town of Oyster Bay. The town board is expected to vote on scheduling a hearing regarding the measure at the upcoming Sept. 29 town board meeting.
“Following the state’s recent designation of South Oyster Bay Road as an ‘access highway,’ residents who live on or near the roadway have expressed concern over the increased presence of oversized tractor trailers,” Alesia said. “The Town of Oyster Bay, together with our colleagues in county government, has requested that this designation be rescinded. In the meantime, the town is looking to modify its traffic code to prohibit these special dimension vehicles from traveling a portion of South Oyster Bay Road.”
Alesia explained that the town has determined that although South Oyster Bay Road is under the jurisdiction of Nassau County, the New York Vehicle & Traffic Law provides the town with the authority to exclude “trucks, tractors, tractor-trailer combinations, or tractor-trailer-semitrailer combinations in excess of any designated weight, designated length, [or] designated height” on such roadways.”
The councilwoman noted that the FedEx facility near Grumman in Hicksville recently made the request of the New York State Department of Transportation to allow all truck combinations exceeding 65 feet in length to utilize South Oyster Bay Road, as a way to easily access their facility. However, Alesia said that they already have an alternative route in place.
“Route 106/107 is already an existing access route that can easily be utilized by these oversized vehicles, in a much less residential area,” Alesia said. “This provides a reasonable alternative to the benefit of all parties involved.”
At an informational meeting at the Plainview library on Sept. 3, residents expressed anger at the new designation and concern that the big rigs would put the community’s overall safety in jeopardy. Alesia said the town is working to address those concerns.
“We don’t need the presence of these large special dimension vehicles infringing upon the quality of life enjoyed by those who reside near or travel our local roadways,” Alesia said. “This measure will help ensure the safety, health and general welfare of our residents.”
