Most Andover town roads will once again be closed to ATVs

Written by Bethel Citizen

Friday, November 20, 2009

Allison Aloisio

Andover selectmen Tuesday voted to close most town roads to ATV use, reversing in part a decision by an earlier board, three years ago.

The earlier board approved use of all of Andover’s roads in August of 2006.

But since then, citizens and game wardens have had increasing concerns for road safety.

The Upton Road in particular was the subject of many concerns because of truck traffic, speed and narrow shoulders.

Last month, selectmen held a public meeting with game wardens, the road commissioner, the Roxbury ATV Club and citizens.

The club noted then that the original 2006 request was to open only roads connecting trails, according to selectboard chair Susan Merrow.

Following the meeting, the board made surveys available to townspeople to voice their opinion on the issue.

Twenty surveys were returned. They generally supported keeping open connector roads that coincide with the published ATV trail system, selectmen said.

Working with trailmaster Mike Worthley and Claus True of the Roxbury ATV Club, the selectmen decided to close down all town roads to ATVs except for the connectors to trails.

The road sections that will remain open include North Main Street from the village center to Wentzell Road, the connector between the Chandler ATV Trail and Grimaldi Field, and upper South Arm Road between Devil’s Den Trail and the South Arm Trail.

State law stipulates that ATVs can travel a maximum of 500 yards between trailheads.

ATVs using the open road sections should ride on the far right of the road surface to prevent shoulder erosion, selectmen said.

“We appreciate the proactive efforts of the Roxbury ATV Club in educating their members on trail use, road safety issues,” said Merrow after the meeting. “They work to get better patrolling in our area for road speed, registrations for out-of-staters, and child- helmet safety. We want both local and visiting riders to be able to enjoy the trail system safely.”

Source: http://www.bethelcitizen.com/story.php?storyid=6926

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Community Voices

“As a rancher who leases public lands for cattle, I’ve seen my share of cut fences and rangeland damaged by ORV use. I’ve also experienced ORV trespass onto my private lands. But I’ve had no way to identify the culprits when reporting trespass or illegal ORV use to local law enforcement. Congress should require that ORVs used on public lands have visible identification plates or decals. Doing so would remove the anonymity enjoyed by ORV riders who are bent on breaking the rules.”

- Ambers Thornburgh, second-generation rancher from Oregon who grazes cattle on his private land and adjacent lands leased from the Bureau of Land Management