Counters tally truck route traffic

Traffic counters on Confluence Drive -- the city's alternate truck route -- have been tallying how many vehicles are using that route. At a recent city council meeting, utilities/public works director Steve Glammeyer said the traffic counters are spaced in a way that also indicates the type of vehicles on the roadway.

The data is needed to petition for designation of Confluence Drive as the hazardous materials route, Glammeyer explained. The information will be reviewed by the Colorado Department of Transportation, then passed to the Colorado State Patrol for permitting.

The truck route is already approved for oversize transport, Glammeyer said. "While you may see oversize trucks on Main Street, those vehicles should be using the truck route," he explained.

"We continue to upgrade our efforts to get the trucks off Main Street," he added. He briefly discussed signage and efforts to upgrade GPS navigation systems used by motorists.

"Is this a concrete step toward a jurisdictional swap?" asked one council member, referring to a possible swap of Confluence Drive with Highway 50 through downtown Delta.

Although the truck route has been built to CDOT standards, Glammeyer said, a swap is not being pursued at this time.