At the Sept 26 Board of Selectmen meeting, Civil Engineer Ian Brown from Greenwich Dept of Public Works presented a proposed amendment to the traffic ordinance in Byram to restrict the weight of trucks to 4 tons at William Street West and Veterans Way.
Image from Sept 26, 2024 Selectmen meeting agenda.
The request was for two additional lines in the traffic ordinance for the weight limits.
The changes included:
1. A new 4-ton weight limit on William Street, covering approximately 0.1 miles, from Mead Avenue to Veterans Way.
2. A new 4-ton weight limit on Veterans Way, spanning the full length of the road (approximately 0.05 miles).
A memo from Mr. Brown indicated William Street was classified as a local road with an average daily traffic volume of 1,400 vehicles, and Veterans Way, also classified as a local road, has an average daily traffic volume of 1,500 vehicles.
“Both are lower-volume roadways with tighter-than-average turning movements,” he wrote, adding, “The Department of Public Works (DPW) has received several complaints about larger trucks rolling over curbs, particularly at the intersection of Veterans Way and Delavan Avenue, creating a significant safety concern for pedestrians.”
At a DPW input session back in April focusing on Byram and Chickahominy several people spoke about a dangerous and worsening situation in the area of Delavan Ave including the intersection of Veterans Way. The pointed to large scale residential redevelopment over the bridge in Port Chester, and the added traffic back and forth to exit 2 at I95.
The weight limit proposal was a second read by the Selectmen, and Fred Camillo said he had received no negative feedback.
Lauren Rabin asked if there could be an extra presence from enforcement officers after the changes is made.
Mr. Brown said the new information would be passed along to Greenwich Police.
Brown said typically DPW is asked whether emergency vehicles and delivery trucks would be able to operate regularly.
“The goal for this type of ordinance is to prevent through trucks from using this as a shortcut to I95,” he said. “School buses would be another question, but from what I understand there are no stops on these roads.”
In Byram, a truck attempting to turn from Veterans Way onto Delavan heading north. Photo: Alex Popp
Damage in the bump out at Delavan Ave and Veterans Way in Byram. Feb 27, 2024 Photo courtesy Alex Popp
Camillo noted that despite improvements in safety in Byram, trucks were cutting through and doing damage.
The board voted unanimously to approve the amended traffic ordinance, “Weight Restricted Streets.”
On Friday during his radio call in show Camillo was asked how the weight limit enforcement would be conducted.
“Tickets,” he said, adding that he expected residents would also monitor the situation and reach out to the Selectmen.
Previously the crosswalk at the intersection of Delavan Ave with New Lebanon Ave (Veterans Way) and Chestnut is in the middle of the intersection.
