Low bridge, tall trucks: tin-can alley - Truckers' Trucking Forum

Cybergal · **^ Top** #1 02.07.2008

Low bridge, tall trucks: tin-can alley
2/7/08
Boston Globe, United States

Quote:

The railroad bridge over East Main Street in Westborough stands 12 feet, 6 inches above the road surface. A typical tractor-trailer truck stands 13 feet, 6 inches tall. Therein lies the problem.

Roughly five times a month, police respond to tractor-trailer trucks either hitting the steel bridge or stopping just before they hit it, Police Chief Alan Gordon said. Both the accidents and near-accidents clog traffic in a part of Westborough that is already often congested because of the rotary in the town center and the recently opened Bay State Commons retail complex, he said.
Although Gordon and other town officials are discussing ways to decrease incidents at the bridge - such as installing new, large signs like the ones that warn truckers not to enter Boston's Storrow Drive - they acknowledge there isn't much they can do if big-rig drivers try their luck with the span and its owner, the CSX Corp., doesn't replace it.
More here>>>>>>

rainman1971 · **^ Top** #2 02.07.2008

It's rather simple to me. If you are 13-6 why are you going to go under a 12-6 bridge? I don't know this bridge. I wonder how far in advance trucks are warned of this low clearance. It seems like the town is doing what they can to avoid trucks from going down there. Anytime that I am in an unfamiliar area, I drive slower than normal and am paying attention to everything around me so I don't miss a turn or come up on a low bridge like this.

gearjammer-2000 · **^ Top** #3 02.07.2008

there is another solution and as I used to be in the roadbuilding business I have never understood why if they can't raise the bridge just lower the road bed most [not all] low bridges have roadways that can be lowered without causing structural problems and it would be far less expensive and quicker to lower the roadbed than to construct a new bridge, makes me think people in government only look for the expensive, hard way to do something when the KISS [keep it simple stupid] principal would work a lot better

rainman1971 · **^ Top** #4 02.07.2008

I completely agree with you but none of this is necessary if the alternate route around the bridge is an easy well marked route. There will be no need to subject already stressed tax payers another expense if it's not needed.

Roadmedic · **^ Top** #5 02.07.2008

Alot of the time the drivers are given faulty directions.

I know of several times my dispatcher or when I contacted the shipper/receiver, they have had me turn the wrong direction at an intersection that leads to the bad overpass.

Unfortunately, alot of drivers have begun to not pay attention to the signs for the height thinking the directions to be gospel.

rookietrucker · **^ Top** #6 02.07.2008

This reminded me of a time. I hauled a load of slate shingles from VT to some little rizzy neighborhood in Mc Murray, PA. I come into this neighborhood and the road comes to a T. Not knowing which way to turn. I stopped at the stop sign. I look right and there is a old RR bridge 10'6 and to the left no trucks over 10 tons. Remind you, its morning traffic and everyone is headed to work. You could not see right til you come up to the stop sign. The address was on this road but I was not sure if it was right or left that I needed to turn. Of course I turned left(I had no choice). Thank goodness it was only a couple houses down where I delivered this load. But the road was a narrow curvy road and I had to back in for them to unload. I was so damn scared of a car coming around the corner and hitting me. I made the contractors put a couple guys out there before I would deliver the load. I was so happy I got outta there !!!

rainman1971 · **^ Top** #7 02.08.2008

That's the Pittsburgh area for you!

elharrison · **^ Top** #8 02.08.2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by rainman1971

That's the Pittsburgh area for you!

i hate pittsburgh they have too many low bridges

probley got confused between 12-6 and 13-6 whats one foot?

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