BRIDGEWATER, NJ — Weight restrictions could be implemented on multiple roads in Bridgewater Township due to concerns about truck traffic.
“The engineering department was asked to take a look at a number of roads in response to a number of development applications that have come through the pipeline, specifically on Route 202/206, as well as some concerns raised by residents for truck traffic using certain roadways as a cut-through,” said Township Engineer William Burr.
Burr gave a presentation at the Jan. 18 Council meeting on the roadways that weight limits were being proposed.
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Long Road, which connects to Bernards Township is among the roads proposed due to it being very narrow.
“It’s really inappropriate for larger vehicles. The road was not built to withstand the weight of larger vehicles,” said Burr.
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Council President Timothy Ring said he has also spoken with Bernards Township to implement a similar 4-ton restriction on their road portion.
“Bernards is fully on board,” said Ring.
A cluster of roads along the Route 202/206 corridor that connects Foothill Road or North Bridge Street was also proposed for the weight limit.
Roads include Cross Road, Somerset Avenue, Highland Avenue, Allen Road, Hillside Avenue, Wight Street, and Prospect Avenue. Burr said many of the roads were very narrow and trees very close to the edge of the road.
“Frankly they haven’t been built to withstand any truck traffic beyond your typical school buses, garbage trucks, and delivery trucks,” said Burr.
Lastly, Adamsville Road is being looked at. Currently, there is a weight restriction on the portion running from Main Street to Route 22. However, the southern section below Main Street does not have a restriction as it limits how trucks can enter industrial buildings in the area.
Councilman Allen Kurdyla noted that “Adamsville Road has been a pain for years.”
He added that truck drivers don’t adhere to the weight limit signs and that it makes it difficult for police to enforce the restrictions.
Instead, he suggested extending the truck route that comes off Finderne Avenue and onto Van Veghten Drive. However, this would cut into green acres protected by Somerset County.
“Can we please get that done? Once that route is completed it will take trucks on a much easier route… and get them off of Adamsville,” said Kurdyla.
Burr said he would look into that suggestion.
Bridgewater Police Chief John Mitzak said the police department has been patroling Adamsville Road and has issued 152 traffic stops for trucks breaking the weight limit restriction in 2023.
“So we are there enforcing that road. Like Councilman Kurdyla said that is a very busy section of town alone with Finderne Avenue with the crashes and the Promenade it’s a very busy area of town,” said Mitzak. “To say we can constantly be there to enforce that is impossible. But we are enforcing it.”
Mitzak said the police department has even tried speaking with Google to get Google Maps to divert tractor-trailers away from those routes and show the 4-ton restricted roads.
However, Mitzak said Google hasn’t cooperated with the township yet.
The Council is expected to introduce an ordinance with the list of roads to enforce a weight limit at its Feb. 1 meeting.
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