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New Truck Route Signs, Maps Helping ‘Tremendously’

A tractor-trailer hauling milk sits in front of United Dairy in Martins Ferry last week. New truck route signage installed by the city has helped curb tractor-trailer drivers from getting lost in Martins Ferry.

MARTINS FERRY – New truck route signs are keeping tractor-trailer drivers on the right path in the city, Martins Ferry Service Director Scott Porter said.

Following a recent Martins Ferry City Council meeting, Porter said the new signs were installed a few months ago and have helped tractor-trailer drivers navigate the city much better than in the past.

“We have the designated routes. … Zane Highway has signs and Broadway (Street) has signs,” Porter said.

Porter said copies of the new truck route maps were given to United Dairy and Nickles Bakery, both of which have trucks driving in and out of the city daily.

“We still have every once in a while somebody will get lost, but it’s helped tremendously with the dairy. There is very little truck traffic down through town now,” Porter said.

In the past, some truck drivers would get lost or use their GPS to reach their destination. However, this often would take them down narrow streets or on streets with sharp turns. This would lead to drivers running over curbs and sidewalks or at times even hitting parked vehicles.

“They’re all abiding by the (routes). A lot of them are using First Street and Center (Street) and coming out on (Ohio) 7 on the east side of town. That helps us out a bunch, too,” Porter said. “Every once in a while we get a new driver who doesn’t know where he’s at, but overall it’s helped quite a bit.”

Councilman Tom Burns said he has noticed an improvement near his home, as in the past semi-trucks would frequently get caught up on his street.

“We had one a couple weeks ago come down the street. That’s the last one I noticed. I’m not there all day. … We haven’t had as much like we used to. It’s been pretty good,” he said. “Usually it would happen in the night, between 3 and 6 in the morning. I don’t know if it was dark and … the sign wasn’t bright enough. But it also happened during the day.”

Martins Ferry Police Chief John McFarland believes the signage has helped truck drivers as well. In the past the intersection where trucks most frequently got stuck was at North Zane Highway and Center Street.

“It got beat up for years. … I’m glad it’s going in the right direction,” he said.

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