Truck traffic on Highway 376 a concern for council

PICTOU, NS – Heavy truck traffic on Highway 376 has the Municipality of Pictou County concerned about drivers not following the rules of the road.

Municipality of Pictou County Warden Robert Parker said during the Dec. 3 council meeting that despite there being signs in place prohibiting heavy truck traffic from travelling on Highway 376, it is getting more and more frequent.  

Warden Parker said signs have been up in either direction for many years stating that trucks weighing over 3000 kg are not allowed on the road except for local deliveries.  However, this summer, he and other residents noticed an increase in the number of dump trucks using Highway 376 and he believes it because it is a shorter distance to a local gravel pit on Mount Thom.

He said RCMP and Nova Scotia Vehicle Compliance were made aware of the situation and quickly responded with checkpoints on the road which stopped trucks from travelling on the rural highway.

However, as of this past weekend, the truck traffic has increased again on the road and he said it is creating a risk to residents in the area.

‘It is dangerous for walkers and people getting out of their driveways,” he said, adding that he had a close call himself recently when he was driving a farm tractor on the road and a truck was unable to slow down.  “The law is the law. Those are big signs and from each direction. “

Warden Parker said he has been touch with RCMP again about the situation, but he asked an email also be sent to the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure, the Attorney General of Nova Scotia, Pictou West MLA Karla MacFarlane and vehicle compliance to stress the urgency of the situation.

“Some will tell you the company is telling them do it or some say it is the truckers. We are putting people at risk on that highway. RCMP know about it and they (drivers) are breaking the law.   These are all belly dump trucks and they are driving aggressively. They are going for all they can do.  They shouldn’t be on this road.  They know it, the company knows it and RCMP know it,“ said Warden Parker.

Council unanimously supported a motion for an urgent email be sent to all a parties.