BOSTON — South Boston residents say huge tractor-trailers are blocking their streets and slowing down first responders.
Those semi drivers are illegally using Day Boulevard to cut through the community.
When Boston 25 News took the community’s concerns to elected officials, they called on police for more enforcement.
Residents say it's a growing pain of a rapidly developing community with increased construction and truck traffic.
But they're worried that pain could lead to real problems in an emergency.
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For large trucks, navigating the crowded streets is a nearly impossible task.
“It's crazy. They come right down the middle of the road, block everything up,” said resident Kevin Burke.
Just last week, a resident snapped a photo of a tractor trailer on beer delivery blocking an ambulance from getting through traffic on L Street.
“Those are the situations that I think about, when I see them,” Southie resident Alex McCarthy said. “I always am like, I pray when I see one, hope that they get there in time.”
But it’s not just dangerous, it’s illegal.
Trucks over 5,000 pounds are prohibited from using Day Boulevard. Residents say they routinely see semis turning left onto L Street instead of using the approved access point on First.
“Unacceptable, obviously jeopardizing public safety,” Representative Nick Collins (D-Suffolk Co.) said.
After Boston 25 showed Rep. Collins the photo, he called State Police and DCR, who monitor Day Boulevard, for a meeting.
Collins says troopers are increasing enforcement for illegal trucks, but he says even more changes are needed to keep the area safe.
“It's a neighborhood street that's used as a cut through for a lot of industry and that's not how it should be,” said Collins.
Rep. Collins says a larger meeting is also planned for next month to discuss major transit changes to Day Boulevard that could further prohibit trucks from the area.