Logging Truck Spill Has Mayor Ness Calling for Action
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DULUTH - A big-rig truck full of logs lost a massive load on the streets of Duluth Friday, and that had Mayor Don Ness speaking out about a bigger issue involving logging trucks that legally can't use I-35 and are forced to use downtown Duluth streets.
The accident happened around 10 a.m. on 26th Avenue East and London Road.
"Thank goodness the spill happened in an area that didn't have a lot of pedestrians walking around or a lot of parked cars in the area. That could have created a tremendous amount of damage," Ness said.
Authorities said the dozens of logs went free when the 30-year-old truck driver made a turn at the intersection.
Some logs hit an SUV, but nobody got hurt.
Meanwhile, Mayor Ness took the accident as a way to increase his plea with congressional leaders in Washington D.C.
He wants a change to transpiration laws that will allow heavy logging rigs to travel on I-35, at least through Duluth. He says besides the dangers to people and traffic on Superior Street and London Road, Duluth's streets can't keep taking the beating they've never built for, and streets that won't be built for in the near future.
"We're looking ahead to spending a lot of money on fixing Superior Street. We can't afford to then fix these, have a new Superior Street and then having these very heavy logging trucks going down and creating new damage on our roads," Ness explained.
Congressman Rick Nolan said Friday that he is working with U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx on a possible weight exemption for logging and other trucks on I-35 in the Duluth area.
Nolan said he expects an answer sometime next week.