Truckers check this out! Low bridge hazard

[Conan The Librarian]

http://www.11foot8.com/




I disagree that nothing be done. The city is maintaining a hazard here.

[kennyd]

You would think the rental truck outfits would tell the renters specifically about this bridge.  Denver has one bridge over I-25 that is 12 foot in the outside lane.  The signs specifically tell trucks to use dthe center lane.  It is full of gouges clear to the rebar.  It is one of many bridges that is WAY past due for replacement.  They raised our registration fees a bunch which is supposed to be earmarked for bridges in particular.


As for this bridge, it may be a contest between the railroad and the city.  Digging lower in the asphalt may cause drainage problems, raising a rail berm and building new abutments is costly and probably requires rerouting the line.

[Sourdough]

There should be one standard Nation Wide.  All bridges should meet that standard.  That way there would be fewer accidents like this.

[powderman]

I saw one in LOU years ago, it got about 1/2 way through. They were letting the air out of the tires to pull it out. Saw a dump truck enter the hwy and forget to lower the bed, big bang on an overpass. POWDERMAN. 

[Old Fart]

They have one about midway on a turnpike here between OKC & Tulsa, that little gremlin jumps out and bites a semi about every month.

[Empty Quiver]

I drive one of those big trucks. I pay taxes.
 
If you are not paying attention you will have a large claim against your insurance carrier, you screwed up. The bridge is well marked. Your truck is your responsability not mine. I could have a bit of empathy if the bridge were around a blind corner, kids were stealing the signs, frost or snow were obsuring the signs. However that is not the case.
 
Changing that bridge clearance would probably run into the millions of dollars. If they start fooling with it it will need to be brought up to some sort of modern code. We all know how that crap goes, it's fine till you touch it but touch any part and it all must be brought up to the most modern levels.
 
Removing these damnable roundabouts with my taxes is a plan I can support.

[Conan The Librarian]

I find it hard to believe that it is well marked. I drive a car and never have to worry about clearance, but I do see signs where clearance is an issue and I always notice it. It's hard to believe that many truck drivers miss seeing the signs.

[mcbammer]

I  hope  the  driver  was  wearing  a  seat  belt  . The  trucks  front  tires  went  up  like  3 ft.  off  the  pavement.  What  a  jolt!

[Empty Quiver]

I find it hard to believe that it is well marked. I drive a car and never have to worry about clearance, but I do see signs where clearance is an issue and I always notice it. It's hard to believe that many truck drivers miss seeing the signs.

Well I can see and read the signs from the chair I'm sitting in right now. The fact it is being hit by rental trucks primarily, means they are likely unskilled operators. The simple fact remains look out the windshield the bridge is too low stop and find a better way. No one is out raising and lowering that bridge, it hasn't moved in a generation I would bet.
 
If you were to investigate you'll likely find it has become a shortcut for car drivers trying to stay away from TRUCK traffic. Those car drivers rent a truck for some reason and drive it like it is a car. It is right off that intersection, a person is watching traffic and not paying attention to the big picture. They are afraid of hitting a car with the front bumper afraid of curbing the rear tire, and congratulating themselves as pretty good drivers, when, CLUNK, they top the truck out because they failed to look around at the big picture.
 
When they have a legitimate reason to rebuild, sure do it right. Until that time people need to pay attention.

[Sourdough]

Close, but different.  As you know my wife does claims for the Army.  Mostly household goods and vehicles, shipped by the troops and their families.  This one troop had a beautiful Land Rover, a non export model.  He had gone through lots of hoops to be able to bring this vehicle to the states from England.  Then he got orders for Alaska. 

He turned the vehicle in at Seattle for shipment to Alaska.  What could go wrong, vehicle would be put on a ship and brought to Anchorage.  He would fly to Anchorage and pick up vehicle.  When he got to Anchorage, he did a walk around and everything looked good.  Till he spotted a scratch down the back corner.  He followed the scratch up to the top of the vehicle.  Luggage rack was missing.  Holes in the roof where rack had been.

Vehicle was seven foot high, with an 8 inch roof rack.  Seems the ship had beams 7'4" high.  People loading the vehicle removed the damaged roof rack and never filled out a report.  A custom rack is having to be built since the maker is bankrupt, and no parts are available.  Shipper is paying.

Don't know how many times I have seen trucks with campers, and motorhomes, take out the eves on the McDonalds drive thru.  McDonalds finally put up two post, with a hanging sign telling the height.  Still see trucks with campers, and motorhomes hitting the sign.

When I was in the Air Force, the housing maintenance crews drove Metro Vans.  I'm guessing they were about nine feet high.  One young Sargent in the Electric shop drove his van under the carports in housing three different times.  The carports were only eight feet high.  After the third time they took his drivers license, and cross trained him.  Don't know how many times I seen those big vans driven under the wings of aircraft.  Ouch, the driver was usually sent home.  You don't get away with tearing up an airplane.

When I was at Homestead AFB and AF One came in, the driver of the truck handling the luggage was not allowed to drive any where near the plane without two spotters.