Large trucks are now prohibited from driving in an unincorporated neighborhood just outside Spring Hill in southern Johnson County.
The Board of County Commissioners deemed the roads in the Spring Hill Station subdivision, just east of Kansas Highway 7 along 199th Street, too narrow and unsafe for large trucks, including semi-trucks.
Commissioners approved the measure 6-0 on Nov. 6. Commissioner Shirley Allenbrand was absent.
The ban encompasses a small area just north of 199th Street, east of K-7 and just a few blocks north of the Miami County line.
The specific streets impacted include:
- Vine Street, beginning at 198th Street, then south to 199th Street,
- Chestnut Street, beginning at 198th, then south to 199th,
- Main Street, beginning at 198th then, south to 199th,
- 198th Street, beginning at Vine Street, then east to Main,
- and 199th Street, beginning at Vine, then east to Main.
“Public works received resident complaints of trucks entering their subdivision and having difficulty navigating the roads to turn around,” said Ryan Sims, senior civil engineer for Johnson County Public Works.
“After investigating the location and consulting with the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office, public works recommended restricting large truck traffic for this area. We do not know for sure why trucks have chosen to enter this dead-end subdivision, as there is no reason for them to be there.”
The Spring Hill Station neighborhood, also known as Ocheltree, has only one entrance from 199th Street at Vine Street. The roads aren’t designed for regular large truck travel, Sims said.
There are some exceptions to the county’s ban.
Emergency services vehicles, including fire trucks and ambulances, or vehicles for other governmental service entities, are allowed in the neighborhood.
Construction, repair and maintenance vehicles can also come into the subdivision to do work on properties that are located along or easily accessible from designated roadways. Large delivery trucks dropping off items are also permitted.
Other exceptions include implements for agriculture and animal husbandry.
