Post by 410main » Wed Aug 05, 2015 11:18 am
Scott, I've found that a lot of forums are mostly complaining, venting, special agenda and what about me platforms that produce no good or informative information for the common good of the "community" it's representing. And hope this forum will continue to shy away from such. But on the information and food for thought side I assume that those who live on Main st. have noticed the new truck traffic that we have acquired since Duke Power has started to remove the coal ash from the now closed River Bend power plant. When it began, Channel 9 News in Charlotte covered it and stated that the truck traffic would follow route 16 onto I-485 to a point in Georgia. Well guess what they discovered? Highway 273 and main st. is a closer and more direct route. Win win situation for industry and lose lose for Mt. Holly citizens! I wonder who redirected the drivers route through Mt. Holly?
One reason is called a "WEIGHT STATION", which the Mt. Holly Main st. route bypasses. Before my retirement I spent 44 years in the trucking industry so I do have a small amount of understanding on this subject. Weight stations are not only to check the weight of a loaded truck but also to check the vehicles obvious maintenance condition for public safety.
It also checks the drivers log books to see how many hours he has been driving. In my few years of experience the lack of proper truck maintenance and sleeping drivers are the major cause of truck accidents. It's not the ability of the drivers, as most of them are well trained professionals. While we are on the subject of weight stations, has anyone ever wondered why a truck going north or south on I-85 or I-485 would pull off of either of these routes and come into Mt. Holly by either 273,[Main st.] or 27,[Freedom Dr.] and make a left or right turn at the intersection at 27 & 273 [the underpass] to go back to I-85 or I-485? The reason is simple! To avoid the weight station!! Their drivers logs are not accurate, too many hours at the steering wheel, they are over weight,[80,000 lbs.], and or their equipment will not pass a standard safety inspection. Why does our City Council continue to turn their eyes from the obvious while the citizens of this community are put at a safety risk? Houses along main st, north and south, are shaken to pieces, the street condition resembles a plowed field, the infrastructure under the streets are destroyed, citizens can't sleep because of the all night noise of truck tires hitting potholes and the devaluing of property values, try selling or renting a house on Main st. Consider the safety factor of hundreds of 80, 000 lb. trucks going up and down the "main st. corridor" 24/7.
This is just something for the citizens to think about before the July council meeting and the upcoming City Council elections. Be there and be involved in our community.
Malcolm Prevatte
Scott, I've found that a lot of forums are mostly complaining, venting, special agenda and what about me platforms that produce no good or informative information for the common good of the "community" it's representing. And hope this forum will continue to shy away from such. But on the information and food for thought side I assume that those who live on Main st. have noticed the new truck traffic that we have acquired since Duke Power has started to remove the coal ash from the now closed River Bend power plant. When it began, Channel 9 News in Charlotte covered it and stated that the truck traffic would follow route 16 onto I-485 to a point in Georgia. Well guess what they discovered? Highway 273 and main st. is a closer and more direct route. Win win situation for industry and lose lose for Mt. Holly citizens! I wonder who redirected the drivers route through Mt. Holly?
One reason is called a "WEIGHT STATION", which the Mt. Holly Main st. route bypasses. Before my retirement I spent 44 years in the trucking industry so I do have a small amount of understanding on this subject. Weight stations are not only to check the weight of a loaded truck but also to check the vehicles obvious maintenance condition for public safety.
It also checks the drivers log books to see how many hours he has been driving. In my few years of experience the lack of proper truck maintenance and sleeping drivers are the major cause of truck accidents. It's not the ability of the drivers, as most of them are well trained professionals. While we are on the subject of weight stations, has anyone ever wondered why a truck going north or south on I-85 or I-485 would pull off of either of these routes and come into Mt. Holly by either 273,[Main st.] or 27,[Freedom Dr.] and make a left or right turn at the intersection at 27 & 273 [the underpass] to go back to I-85 or I-485? The reason is simple! To avoid the weight station!! Their drivers logs are not accurate, too many hours at the steering wheel, they are over weight,[80,000 lbs.], and or their equipment will not pass a standard safety inspection. Why does our City Council continue to turn their eyes from the obvious while the citizens of this community are put at a safety risk? Houses along main st, north and south, are shaken to pieces, the street condition resembles a plowed field, the infrastructure under the streets are destroyed, citizens can't sleep because of the all night noise of truck tires hitting potholes and the devaluing of property values, try selling or renting a house on Main st. Consider the safety factor of hundreds of 80, 000 lb. trucks going up and down the "main st. corridor" 24/7.
This is just something for the citizens to think about before the July council meeting and the upcoming City Council elections. Be there and be involved in our community.
Malcolm Prevatte