The Festus City Council on July 27 restricted commercial vehicle use of a stretch of Gamel Cemetery Road.
Council members voted 6-0 to amend city code regarding commercial motor vehicles after the city received complaints about traffic on Gamel Cemetery Road in the southern part of town, Festus City Administrator Ben DeClue said.
Ward 4 Councilman Mike Cook attended the meeting remotely but was unable to cast a vote due to technical issues.
The amendment restricts commercial vehicle use on Gamel Cemetery Road from its intersection with Pounds Road and running south to its intersection with Hwy. CC.
“The request for this ordinance happened prior to my arrival, but as I understand it, the City Council has heard complaints for a while now about large vehicles on (Gamel Cemetery Road) and safety,” said DeClue, who took over as the city administrator June 29.
The amendment applies to commercial motor vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating greater than 19,500 pounds.
“Per (Police Chief Doug Wendel), he believes the (vehicle weight) rating is printed on the VIN tag on the driver side door of the vehicle,” DeClue said.
“He and his officers will be doing some research and training to better identify such vehicles by sight and then confirm via the door tag.
“It’s definitely a situation where we will be having conversations with drivers to make sure the situation is explained and those with exceptions are allowed through.”
According to the amendment, the restriction does not apply to “school buses, city-owned vehicles, public utility vehicles engaged in construction and/or repair activities, or to commercial motor vehicles engaged in local pickup or delivery within the city to its residents therein, including household moving trucks.”
DeClue said the intention behind the restriction on the stretch of Gamel Cemetery Road is to improve safety, particularly for those who live on the road.
“Narrow, curvy rural roads often lack shoulders, sightlines or turning radius for large trucks,” he said. “Heavy vehicles are more likely to drift over the centerline on curves and struggle to stop on grades.
“Also, fewer semis and large trucks rumbling past should help to keep the area feeling residential and scenic rather than a freight corridor.”