Stockton council weighs truck restrictions for Bridge Street after GPS-guided detours cause damage

Council members in Stockton on July 21 discussed steps to stop heavy trucks from using Bridge Street after repeated complaints that GPS navigation directs large vehicles across the borough bridge to Pennsylvania, causing accidents and property damage.

Mayor Aaron Lipsen opened the item but said he and Councilmembers Matthew Fisher and Peter Folz would recuse from the discussion because of unspecified conflicts. Council President Michael Mann chaired the conversation and said an ordinance to address the problem "is an excellent idea." Borough Attorney Lisa Maddox outlined possible approaches including installing signage, prohibiting trucks above a defined size or weight, and creating exemptions for local deliveries and permitted access.

During the public-comment portion, resident Adam Juncosa said mainstream map apps do not allow users to filter by vehicle type and that is part of the problem: "There is no way to filter what type of vehicle you're using, and this is the issue with trucks and their weight," he said, recommending blinking or flashing-warning signs to alert drivers.

Maddox told the council she would research legal options and drafting approaches so the borough could pursue targeted signage or an ordinance that balances public-safety needs with legitimate commercial deliveries. Council members discussed operational details such as signage placement, permitting for local deliveries, and how to enforce size or weight limits.

No ordinance was introduced or voted on at the July 21 meeting; the item was left for further research and drafting by the borough attorney and staff. The council indicated it would return to the topic with proposed language and implementation options once legal and enforcement questions were clarified.