Town staff described a recent incident in which a tractor-trailer, guided by GPS, reached the Barefoot–Whitney intersection and could not complete a planned turn because of an existing 5-ton truck exclusion on Whitney Street and a separate weight restriction on a nearby bridge.

Scott (staff) recounted following the truck and said it became effectively stuck before making a multi-point turn to exit the area. He told the committee that MassDOT had identified two administrative options: municipalities can temporarily suspend local truck exclusions until a bridge or restriction is addressed, or they can request a formal rescission that MassDOT would review. “You can temporarily suspend the truck exclusion through the adopting body, the Select Board, and just be the remove or back the signs until the other restriction is lifted,” Scott said.

Scott said the bridge weight limit resulted from an inspection showing concrete beams with cracking, spalling and exposed, corroding strands; he estimated the restriction had been in place “about maybe 5, 5, 6 years ago.” He told members the repair timeline could be lengthy: “I don't know. Decade or 2, maybe? Yeah. It's not high on MassDOT's priority list.”

Public commenter Lisa Miceli urged caution about rescinding the exclusion because Whitney Street is narrow, partly without contiguous sidewalks, and residential: “If you're going down Barefoot Road, I would wonder if you couldn't put a sign that said truck exclusion ahead ... and prevent the cars from getting up to that corner when they know they can't take a left to go down Whitney.” Scott noted limitations with advance signage because drivers need a practical place to turn and avoid pushing vehicles onto private property or parking lots.

Committee members raised alternatives, including suspending the exclusion for a limited segment or routing adjustments, but staff said nearby alternate routes were often illogical or unsuitable for tractor-trailers. No vote was taken; members asked staff to contact MassDOT for timeline information and to check the bridge's status within the municipal bridge program.

Ending: Staff will contact MassDOT to request timeline information and consider outreach to local businesses making repeated deliveries on Barefoot Road; the committee will revisit the issue depending on MassDOT response.