Got up to the top of the notch this morning at about 10:15am to a line of cars near the main parking lot. A state police car was blocking the road. All the cars in front of me turned around and went back down the mountain so I became first on line. I talked with the trooper and he told me a tractor trailer was stuck in the hairpin turn. I asked him if I could drive down to where he was stuck and the trooper agreed since the wrecker would be coming from the Stowe side and I wouldn't be in the way.
So apparently the fine for getting stuck in the Notch is only $200. A DMV Enforcement vehicle was apparently conducting an inspection on the stuck truck so the fine may end up being more, but it is only $200 for causing a road to be closed (which seems very low to me). The wrecker basically lifts the trailer so they can move it into position so the truck can move. This guy had to back down about 1/2 a mile before he could turn around. He had to be hooked to the wrecker 2 times, becuase he couldn't back down the road he came up. The driver claimed to not have seen the signs that tractor trailers are prohibited.
I think the only way stop trucks from going through would be a sign with a picture of a stuck truck. The signs have been improved in the last year or so, and I think a flashing light might help, but in reality I think even if a trucker sees the sign by the time they are all the way up there, they are not going to take the time to stop and turn around.
My pictures are below:
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