Bristol Takes Action To Combat Truck Traffic Problems

Bristol Borough officials are taking steps to address ongoing truck traffic issues that plague residential neighborhoods.

Mayor Ralph DiGuiseppe III proposed immediate action to curb “truck problems” during Monday evening’s council meeting.

The mayor said he is recommending placing concrete barriers at the intersection of Prospect and Beaver Street to prevent trucks from entering residential areas where they don’t belong.

“I am recommending and I’m asking the borough manager and council to place a temporary concrete barrier at the intersection of Prospect and Beaver Street,” DiGuiseppe said. “We had another incident there where a truck came down Prospect Street and hit unfortunately a resident’s car for the fifth time.”

The mayor describes the situation as “infuriating” and “ridiculous,” noting that the borough is working diligently to resolve the problem.

In addition to the physical barriers, DiGuiseppe is asking council to pass an ordinance prohibiting truck traffic on Beaver, Jefferson, and Pond streets.

The move would officially designate these roads as non-truck routes, allowing police to cite and ticket drivers who ignore the restrictions.

“We are going to take every step possible to fix this issue. And until it’s fixed, we’re not going to be satisfied because it’s completely ridiculous and out of control what’s going on with these trucks,” DiGuiseppe said.

Bristol Borough’s solicitor said an ordinance will be prepared and ready for advertisement shortly.

According to officials, the primary source of the problem stems from trucks missing the turn into the Utopia facility, which is formerly the Keystone Lighting building, and then ending up in residential areas of Bristol Borough.

“The number one problem with these trucks that’s happening 99 percent of the time is they are missing the turn into Utopia and then they’re wandering into all parts of Bristol Borough,” DiGuiseppe explained.

The mayor shared that recently an Amazon truck was about to turn on Jefferson Street off of Beaver Street, which would have resulted in the vehicle either hitting or getting stuck under the bridge.

The mayor said he shared a video of another Amazon truck making a U-turn in the middle of Route 13 with Chief of Police Joe Moors.

Moors has stationed police vehicles to try to cut down on wayward trucks.

Council President Ralph DiGuiseppe noted that the borough has already attempted less permanent solutions, but truck drivers have been circumventing them.

“We place some temporary structures with signage and no trucks and we put some barriers that are movable at this intersection. The truck drivers are now getting out and taking the time to move the barriers,” the mayor said.

The concrete barriers would make it physically impossible for trucks to pass through the intersection.

“I want to put something there that can’t be moved then they physically will not be able to move it and they will not be able to go around it. And if they do, they would most likely damage their truck,” the council president stated.

The truck traffic issues extend beyond the Beaver Street area.

The mayor mentioned being awakened by a truck on his street around 4 a.m. about two years ago as the driver attempted to reach a business on the other side of the train tracks.

“It’s a problem we’re having throughout town, but the problem we’re having on Beaver street and that whole area is more prevalent and we are going to get it fixed,” the mayor said.

The meeting also included discussion of ongoing efforts to address train noise issues affecting residents along Trenton Avenue, with the mayor reporting that an acoustic study for a potential sound wall will begin soon.

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