Neighbors concerned about tanker trucks supplying Saugus gas station

SAUGUS – Diane Trickett said Nason Road in Saugus has been a quiet residential area where kids play and neighbors often go for walks.Recently, however, Trickett, along with other neighbors, are increasingly concerned about gas tanker trucks using Nason Road and Sunnyside Park to make deliveries at the Super Petroleum on Lincoln Avenue.The trucks travel down Nason Road and then have to make a nearly 180-degree right turn onto Sunnyside Park to head back up to the rear of the gas station, according to neighbors.Trickett said she contacted Super Petroleum more than a year ago about the trucks when one almost crashed into her as she was turning her vehicle onto Lincoln Avenue.?A truck was coming so fast that I could see the surprise on (the driver?s) face when he saw me,” said Trickett, who has lived on Nason Road for 13 years. “I had to swerve over to the side to avoid him. I said, ?OK, this is enough.?”Since then, Trickett said she?s noticed the trucks driving slower but said Nason Road is still no place for tanker trucks to be driving.?There?s no reason for them to be on our street,” said Trickett. “We?re a very small residential street? It?s very quiet here and there?s not a lot of traffic so people walk in the middle of the street. There?s no rhyme or reason when these trucks come down the street.”Steve Duffy, Operations Manager for Super Petroleum, said using Nason Road is the safest route his drivers can take to make deliveries.Drivers would have to back up into the station on Lincoln Avenue if they stuck to the main road, Duffy said, which increases the chances of a major accident.?It?s all about safety,” said Duffy. “The vast majority of crashes happen with gas trucks when they?re backing up. It?s much more dangerous for the neighborhood to have the guy backing up because people fly down that street and you don?t want to have a 100,000-pound bomb backing up.”Duffy said by going around the block, drivers are able to keep everything in front of them.Despite this, Peter Bradley, who has lived on Sunnyside Park for 17 years, said the idea of gas tankers driving by his house still doesn?t sit well with him.?The gas truck is a concern because you have how many thousand gallons of gasoline?” said Bradley. “They come here all the time. It?s a gas truck in your neighborhood, you see how close all the houses are together. If something were to happen on this street? it?s a disaster waiting to happen.”Building Inspector Frank Varone said Wednesday that there are no restrictions for gas tankers on that street, and residents would have to go before the Board of Selectmen to try to get an ordinance passed to implement truck restrictions.Thomas Roughan has been living on Sunnyside Park since 1968 and his house sits directly across from the wide turn the trucks have to make. He said he?s seen trucks clip the curb and take out branches overhead.And when he sees the trucks heading right toward his front window, it can be scary, Roughan said.?When you?re sitting down watching television, you see this big tanker making this wide turn,” said Roughan. “When they bounce off that curb, you start getting nervous. If it ever tipped, it would wipe out the whole street.”Duffy, however, said he?s spoken to his drivers numerous times about safety and said they take all precautions.?Gas truck drivers are the top of the truck driver food chain,” said Duffy. “They?re the most highly trained. They get the most money and, by and large, they don?t drive like idiots. They have no violations and no tickets. These guys are good.”The tanker tucks are just one of several issues some residents have with the Super Petroleum. During busy hours, neighbors say cars will pull off of Lincoln Avenue for gas and block Sunnyside Park while they wait in line.The problem is compounded when mechanics park vehicles they?re working on in the street too.?You try to get out on the end of the street and everyone who needs gas thinks they?re privileged,” said Bradley. “I can?t get