Issaquah bans big rigs from cutting through downtown

ISSAQUAH, Wash. — The streets of downtown Issaquah are going to be a bit quieter starting this week.

The city has banned big rig trucks from cutting through town.

Front Street used to be a truck route, but not anymore. As of Sunday, the semi-trucks that would rumble down two-lane road in the old section of downtown Issaquah are banned after people complained about noise and safety.

So, unless trucks have local deliveries, they'll have to stay off Front Street and a few other city streets.

Sunset Way, Newport Way and Northwest Maple Street are also on the new prohibited list for truck drivers.

For those unfamiliar with the situation, truckers will get off I-90 and head south through Issaquah to meet up with Highway 18 in order to get to South Sound cities without having to deal with I-405.

With the new moratorium, those truck drivers will be routed onto State Route 900 and May Valley Road instead of traveling through downtown Issaquah.    That obviously has generated some concern from people who live on May Valley Road, which is a relatively quiet, rural, ranch-type area.

But the city of Issaquah is trying to get out ahead of future traffic troubles.

City officials expect Issaquah's population and workforce to more than double in the next 15 years, so, banning trucks from downtown streets is the first of many planned traffic solutions the city is working on.

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