Trucks, hazardous loads banned on North Levee Road

With two unanimous approvals, Fife City Council voted to restrict trucks weighing 26,000 pounds or more and loads displaying “hazardous” postings from traversing North Levee Road. Two new city ordinances will make the decision official by July 21.  

The rules of the ban have changed a bit since it was first brought before council during a June 8 public hearing.

Vehicles weighing 26,000 pounds or more and/or displaying a “hazardous” load sign would be restricted from traveling on North Levee Road from the Melroy Bridge, located at 66th Avenue East, to the western city limits. Council added a “sunset clause” to the ban ordinance, meaning restrictions would expire after two years.

“This will keep the item at the forefront of our minds,” said Mayor Barry Johnson, who suggested the clause. “It’s on a timeline and will drive us to find a lasting solution for the city.”

North Levee Road has been a thorn in the sides of Fife council members for years. The actual road, stretching from 70th Avenue East along the western limits of the city, was constructed on top of the Puyallup River Levee decades ago. The road was primarily utilized by agricultural and rural traffic, but has transitioned to accommodate heavy truck traffic as the city of Fife has grown. In recent years, the Pierce County-owned levee has been deemed unsuitable by federal guidelines.

It has been argued that the two-lane road is too narrow and unsafe for such heavy traffic. Currently, the road has no median, shoulders or sidewalks and it does not meet current city road standards. However, due to the road’s location on top of a levee, pending financial constraints and engineering challenges, the city is unable to make improvements anytime soon.

In the past year, there have been three rollover accidents involving semi-trucks on North Levee Road. Over the past 15 years, the road has the highest rate of rollover accidents than any other street in Fife. One such accident involved a semi-truck belonging to Brian Snider, owner of Snider Petroleum located in Sumner.

Last December, Snider’s fuel truck driver slid over an embankment almost plunging into the Puyallup River. Since then, his trucks have been prohibited from traveling on North Levee Road and he told council he agrees.

“I’m hoping this ordinance makes it safer for trucks,” Snider said. He added that the dangerous conditions are not only truck issues.

“Personal vehicles have accidents, too,” he added. “Its just too narrow. It’s dangerous.”

Commenting rules