Despite signs, some truck drivers still get lost on their way to Frankfort business park
With plenty of signage and online maps and GPS instructions to follow, the location of the Tractor Supply Distribution Center at 1938 Country Mile in the 5S South Business Park in Frankfort is no secret.
Still, a tractor trailer once again found its way into a residential area in Frankfort last week, driving past a sign identifying the area as a residential neighborhood, and leaving behind damaged lawns.
Andrew Trojnar was home last Thursday due to the Veterans Day holiday when he saw a tractor trailer drive past his home at 119 Piper Lane. He saw the rig turn onto Maple Drive and continue to the T-intersection with Country View.
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When the driver realized he was not arriving at the business park and was unable to turn around on the narrow street, he backed down Maple Drive and backed around with the wheels of the heavy truck leaving deep ruts in lawns including Trojnar’s side lawn, which faces Maple Drive, and his front lawn, which was marked by deep ruts.
As someone who takes pride in his lawn, he said, “It sickened me.”
In hindsight, said Trojnar, he perhaps should have tried to direct the driver of the tractor trailer in backing around on the narrow streets. As it is, he’s glad he was home to see what happened. He called the town police and a ticket was issued to the driver for failing to heed a traffic control device.
Truck drivers punching the name “Country” rather than “Country Mile” into their GPS apps have wound up being directed to Country View in Frankfort, or even the Country Meadows manufactured housing community instead of Country Mile. Local officials and Tractor Supply have worked to correct the problem, including requesting changes in the listing order that turns up on GPS apps and devices.
“Even if we changed the name of the road, there would always be somebody,” said Herkimer County Industrial Development Agency Executive Director John Piseck. He recommended the homeowner contact Tractor Supply to ask for help repairing the damaged lawn.
Frankfort Town Supervisor Glenn Asnoe said the town has tried to find ways to redirect errant drivers. “We’ve put signs up on Main Street saying ‘Don’t turn here’ ‘Distribution center this way.’ ”
He said because Route 171, Litchfield Street, is a state highway, local authorities are limited in the types of signs they can put up there. “They have to conform to the Uniform Traffic Control Devices Manual. You can’t put Tractor Supply in the name, you have to say distribution center.”
Town and village police and even DPW crews have stopped tractor trailers they see heading up Litchfield Street to redirect drivers to the business park, he said. “But they can’t be on Litchfield Street all the time.”
Asked about reaching out to trucking companies, Asnoe said, “We’ve done that too.”
The town had placed barricades next to the "residential traffic only" sign at the entrance to Libritz Drive, which leads into the residential neighborhood, but Highway Superintendent Ron Testa removed them recently in preparation for winter plowing.
“I cannot figure out an answer,” said Asnoe.
He said he could understand Trojnar’s being upset about his lawn. “I like mine pristine too,” he said, but added, “We’ve done everything humanly possible. You can’t fix driver error.”
Tractor Supply celebrated the official opening of its 924,000 square foot distribution center in Frankfort in 2019.
Company officials said the center allowed them to expand the store’s base in the country’s northeastern corridor and better serve customers with faster, more efficient delivery to stores. The 5S South Business Park is now full, with Heidelberg Bakery, JBF Stainless and Adirondack Food and Fuel also operating along Country Mile.
Donna Thompson is the government and business reporter for the Times Telegram. Email her at donna@timestelegram.com.
This article originally appeared on Times Telegram: Some big rig drivers still go astray on way to Frankfort business park
