Politics & Government

Quieter Route 65 in the Works for Leetsdale

Trucks may be barred from using their Jake brakes as early as June, said borough engineer Daniel Slagle.

Leetsdale borough is closer to ensuring a quieter roadway on Route 65 by preparing a Brake Retarder Prohibition Ordinance application.

The council approved a motion to continue the process by submitting the application to PennDOT once it has been completed.  

Led by borough engineer Daniel Slagle with the help of , the project was prompted by complaints from residents along the boulevard.

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“Now that we got the train whistles under control on the overpass project, which was a harassment to the borough for about the last 10 years, it’s now quiet enough that they can hear the brakes jakeing,” said Slagle.

A Jake brake is a certain type of brake that involves engaging the gear system and using the engine to slow a truck down, explained Slagle. Although it creates a loud noise, this manner of stopping allows a driver to put less strain on the brakes.

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“It provides a degree of safety for the trucks because they aren’t necessarily using their brakes to stop at an intersection,” Slagle said. “By prohibiting this, you are basically taking this away from the truck. But you’re also taking the noise away from the community, so it’s a give and take.”

Slagle was quick to emphasize that there should not be any safety issues. Along with the police department, he has evaluated the roadway to ensure that trucks can continue to operate safely.


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