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Today's Poll: Should the Cedar Street bridge be repaired to make it passable to truck traffic?

By Howard B. Owens
Doug Yeomans

If you slip and fall in your bath tub, should someone else be blamed? If you hit the bridge with the trailer you're towing, should someone else be blamed?

While in the bath tub do you know it might be slippery and that you could fall? Did you bother to take precautions so that you wouldn't slip and fall? If you're driving a truck do you understand that some bridges are too low to pass under? Did you bother to take precautions so that you wouldn't hit it?

Take responsibility!

Dec 10, 2009, 9:11am Permalink
Wayne Speed

The bridge has been there for a long time. It is posted for height restrictions. John is right - fine the drivers who are hitting it, mark their licenses. But then of course we have a court system that can't deal with a man who has seven DUIs - what can I say?

Dec 10, 2009, 9:45am Permalink
C. M. Barons

The problem with the Cedar St. bridge isn't strictly about risk-taking truck drivers.

...Think about why they choose Cedar St. Batavia is perched at the intersection of five major routes: 5, 33, 63, 90 and 98. There is no beltway so heavy trucks can can bypass the business district. (Although the 70s urban renewal plan included one.) Truckers have to deal with oblique angles like 33 on the eastside, 63, downtown; the new traffic circle and 63 on the westside. We all have to contend with poorly synchronized (and overly abundant) traffic lights. Since Batavia is a spoke-city, the interconnection options are restricted. ...Also parking in the right driving lane on 98 North.

Cedar St. is the closest thing to a commercial bypass. Why isn't the bridge built to accommodate large trucks? It's located in an industrial area.

Dec 10, 2009, 11:42am Permalink
Doug Yeomans

Batavia, like all other areas in NY and the U.S. is cash strapped. We don't need to buy another bridge. Go around it if your truck to too high to fit under.

Dec 10, 2009, 2:28pm Permalink
Bob Price

It was built way before trucks became 13'6" high....most trailers years ago used to be 12'6" or lower,so it was no problem.Also-used to be 40' for norm on trailers-then 45',then 48',now we have 53' trailers,and many of these intersections weren't designed for the large trucks we have nowadays.Making a right turn off 63 onto Rt 5 by Clors-53' trailers need to take the center lane to clear curb and signs-last winter I saw Parise's moving trailer tandems off snowbank there.That bridge should be removed,it no longer serves a purpose-unless they plan on re-laying railroad tracks over it for the new agri-park.

Dec 10, 2009, 2:29pm Permalink
scott williams

THERE IS TALK of rebuilding cedar st for what possible reason is beyond me.This money should be used to rebuild tracy ave.there is no visible curb over an inch, you need to be drunk just to walk a straight line on the sidewalks[yes we still have sleight]I would contact my council person to have all the council walk down these sidewalks some night after one of there meetings but im still in the dark as to who that is,why do they keep there districts such a secret[never a public map]well rebuild the bridge there hasnt been trains on the one in ? for at least 30 years take it down and use itto cross the swamp in alabama or better yet give all the truck drivers coming out of OATKA the DUH TEST and re-route the ones that dont pass..I guess the state seems to think the road should be smoother for all the people going to that park your not allowed to drive in[whos stupid rule is that].

Dec 11, 2009, 3:23pm Permalink

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