North Berwick residents press select board to curb heavy truck traffic on Maple Street

Wendy Cowan, chair of the Town of North Berwick Select Board, and board members heard an extended public complaint and follow-up discussion about heavy commercial truck traffic on Maple Street during the board’s July meeting.

Resident Dwight Wright said Maple Street "has picked up an awful lot of traffic recently" from Maine Rock and Recycling and from Curtis Excavation and urged the town to keep heavy vehicles on wider roads. "We would encourage that this heavy duty commercial truck traffic uses Lebanon Road instead of Maple Street," Wright said, noting Maple Street’s residential character, multiple bus stops and a 90-degree curve near Route 4.

Why it matters: Board members said the issue raises safety concerns for children, pedestrians and bus traffic on a narrow, residential road. At the same time they flagged practical and policy limits — town officials said restrictions can…