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Pocono News Section
Oversized Load Exits Danville
Oversized Load Exits Danville - Tuesday, November 10, 2009 at 6:05PM EST
Reported by: Jeremy Deebel
Tuesday, Nov 10, 2009 @ 06:05pm EST
Danville, Montour County-
An oversized load, stuck in Montour County the past couple weeks, got back on the road Tuesday. It had been blocking traffic from using Front Street in Danville.
At one point, it broke down on the Route 54 Bridge connecting Danville with Riverside. Now borough officials are looking for ways to prevent it from ever happening again.
The “road closed” signs have moved to the side and traffic is flowing once again on Front Street and the Danville-Riverside Bridge.
It was welcome news after the oversized load, which was carrying part of a giant windmill, sat idle here for the past few weeks.
Arlene Ulrich, of Danville, said, "Yeah we're glad it's gone because it was a big congestion with the traffic and you had to go the long way around to get to the bridge."
Many blame PennDOT for not allowing the truck to use the Route 54 tunnel, which also would have cut it close.
Carl Reublinger, of Danville, said, "The tunnel doesn't have the height restrictions posted on it. And it should, being a state highway."
But Reublinger, a fellow trucker, says it's the driver's responsibility to map out a safe, viable travel route.
As for Danville borough officials, they've seen enough.
Danville Police Chief Eric Gill says while he can't outright ban the oversized loads from traveling through the borough, there are ways he can persuade them to consider taking alternate routes.
Gill explained, "If PennDOT does make the trucks come through the borough, then we're going to have to look at an alternative way of funding our resources, and that would be through billing the truck companies that come through the borough."
Townspeople here seem to agree. Reublinger noted, "They should charge them because it ties up at least five people for traffic regulations and so forth."
And now that the oversized load has left, a little sense of humor about the whole situation is settling in.
Reublinger added, "Like I said, I thought they were going to turn it into a hotel after another week, but apparently they got it moved now, so it's a good thing."
We got in touch with the driver of that oversized load, who says he made it to the Pennsylvania-Maryland border, where he's waiting for a new permit. | | |
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