Runaway Ramps

I had a nightmare once.
I was in a run away truck using every inch of both sides of the road trying not to go over the edge and plunge to my death.
Truck would slide and lean over almost toppling down the mountain at every bend in the road.
Only 2more turns till the runaway ramp , just made it.
As I make it round the last bend my relief that I am going to live turns to despair as I see there is already a truck arrested only a few yards in to the ramp.

 

I have never seen a trk on an escape ramp but that has to be scarey for the driver.I have drove many mountains and the ones with 2 or more ramps make me real nervous.

 

I see them full from time to time. Twice this past year on Ashland, once by a mexican and once by a #########, but both trucks had cali plates, just sayin. : )

The one ramp I dont think anyone wants to use is on 60 in Az coming down Salt River Canyon. There never used to be a ramp there. If you stop at one of the pull outs and look down into that deep canyon, the cars and trucks that went over are still there from past years. Anyway, the new ramp is your typical gravel ramp, but it is only about two truck lengths long and at the end is a 40 foot plus rock wall. You descend this from the top, winding 25mph switch backs all the way to the bottom, must be more than 5 miles anyway. Once you reach the bottom, you cross a short bridge over a small stream (Salt River) and then begin the long steep climb of switch backs back up to the top again.

 

Use to run that often usually at 4-5 am with out all the tourists. Its really fun during a winter storm

 

I have seen trucks in the one on the Mass pike in Blanford. If you can not make it down that hill without useing up your brakes somethings definately wrong with your driveing or your equitment.

 

last summer, I-77 south in VA MP 5or 6 maybe,(fancy gap), car was on one with the hood up and blanket spread out on the sand. 3 kids running up the ramp, playing.

 

Imagine coming up (down actually )on that and needing to use the ramp. :0

 

I've seen 7 (seperate times) on the runaway ramp on I-70 Eisenhower grade. If I ever have to use on I am going to try to make it to the top of it and plant a little flag saying that I made it that far up the runaway ramp.

 

I chalk it up as truck stop talk...

The one guy I have talked to in the early 90's that claims to have used it said it cost him $85,000 to use the ramp.

That's taking into account the tickets from the HP for "failure to control vehicle" reckless driving, repair to the ramp and for towing out of the ramp as well as repairs to the truck.

In today's work environment, I'd think a ramp would be a career-ender.

 

Hmm...hit the ramp, get tossed thru the windshield or try to make it to the bott...


Before we knew any better we would kick em out of gear on the big hills after the brakes got hot and go like hell to put out the fire

This was pre Jake days when you would apply a little pressure to the trailer and let it spark and smoke. Fire only started when you let off and air got to it.

For years company trailers were our Jake Brakes