Patterson Sets Weight Limit on Fields Corners Road

By Holly Crocco

The Patterson Town Board on Nov. 4 unanimously approved a local law that sets a weight limit on Fields Corners Road, with the goal of reducing the amount of large vehicles on that roadway that are traveling to and from the Lincoln Logistics warehouses recently constructed on Pugsley Road in Southeast.

“So what we are doing tonight is establishing a weight limit of 10,000 pounds on Fields Corners Road to try to limit commercial vehicles on the road,” said Supervisor Richard Williams during last week’s town board meeting.

During a public hearing on the matter, Alicia Yarusso of Fields Corners Road thanked the board for taking action.

“I’m subjected to all the traffic that’s come through as a result of the warehouses and the changes in the special permit (in the Town of Southeast),” she said, noting that she’s installed cameras on her property that have recorded 18-wheelers, large box trucks, and trailers passing by daily.

“The wearing on the road is really unacceptable,” said Yarusso. “There’s an average of 60 cars a day. That’s just in front of my home – that’s not even including down on the Fair Street side. Our road has sustained so much wear and tear in this period since the warehouse has been established.”

In addition, Yarusso said large trucks are hitting bars that were set up to prevent them from traveling up Fields Corners Road.

“It’s dangerous – you have the large trucks coming through and the road just isn’t wide enough to handle the traffic,” she said. “I do think the amount of traffic that comes through there is also very concerning… We’ve had more potholes, and even safely walking is just not present anymore.”