18 Wheeler stuck in Zion National Park tunnel

The signs I saw, and verified on google earth, say, zion national park, COMMERCIAL VEHICLES PROHIBITED.

It is listed as a low clearance in the atlas, and restricted to truck traffic also...

I am so tired of the blame the technology, or someone else of the current generations. Technology is only as smart as the person using it, and this driver is the perfect example o brain dead, can't think for themselves, blame it on someone else attitude.

 

Thanks Big Don, now simmer down. And that, my friends, is who is driving America's trucks today. One thing for sure, it's going to get a lot worse, before it get's better.

 

I can only verify that is the case at Yellowstone and Glacier, and that their entrances are configured to allow trucks, because trucks have to get in there to serve concessions, etc.

Baja-ing around both parks in support of fire crews are among the highlights of my truck driving experience.

 

[Photo caption: If your vehicle is 11”4 (3.4m) tall or taller or 7’10” (2.4 m) wide or wider, including mirrors, awnings, and jacks, you will need a tunnel permit.]

The Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel
Construction of the 1.1 mile Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel began in the late 1920's and was completed in 1930. At the time that the tunnel was dedicated, on July 4, 1930, it was the longest tunnel of its type in the United States. The purpose of the building the Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel (and the Zion-Mount Carmel Highway) was to create direct access to Bryce Canyon and Grand Canyon from Zion National Park.

Tunnel Traffic Control for Oversize Vehicles
Before 1989, large vehicles, including tour buses, motor homes, and trailers, were involved in more and more accidents and near misses in the tunnel due to an immense increase in the volume of traffic and in the size of vehicles passing through the tunnel.

A study by the Federal Highways Administration in early 1989 found that large vehicles could not negotiate the curves of the tunnel without crossing the center line. To ensure safety, the National Park Service began traffic control at the tunnel in the spring of that year.

Rangers posted at both ends of the tunnel convert two-way tunnel traffic to one-way for larger vehicles, ensuring safe passage. This service, for which a $15 dollar tunnel permit fee is charged, was provided for over 27,874 oversized vehicles in calendar year 2011.

Large vehicles may only travel through the tunnel daily from:

• March 9 to May 3 from 8:00 am to 7:00 pm
• May 4 to September 6 from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm
• September 7 to September 27 from 8:00 am to 7:00 pm
• September 28 to November 1 from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm
• During the winter months, drivers of large vehicles must make advance arrangements at the entrance stations for the one-way traffic control service at the tunnel. Winter hours of operations for the tunnel are 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Obtaining a Tunnel Permit

• Have your vehicle measured at the entrance station when you arrive at the park. Any vehicle that is 7 feet 10 inches (2.4 meters) in width and/or 11 feet 4 inches (3.4 meters) in height or larger is required to have a tunnel permit.
• Pay $15.00, in addition to the park entrance fee, for the tunnel permit at the entrance station before proceeding to the tunnel.
• Drive to the tunnel during the tunnel hours of operation (posted seasonally).
• Tunnel traffic control will be provided by friendly NPS rangers.
• Your $15.00 tunnel permit is good for two trips through the tunnel for the same vehicle within seven days of purchase.

Prohibited Vehicles
Vehicles over 13 feet 1 inch tall, Semi-trucks, vehicles carrying hazardous materials, vehicles weighing more than 50,000 pounds, single vehicles over 40 feet long, combined vehicles over 50 feet long. All Bicycles. Pedestrians.

http://www.nps.gov/zion/planyourvisit/the-zion-mount-carmel-tunnel.htm

 

Very true,its a shame drivers learn the hard way not to trust companies routing.They use to leave me in some shakey situations.I learned then to look over their routing with an atlas and also asked drivers if something didn't look right.Then I would call my dispatcher and he would give me a different route.

 

He said he came up from kanab, with a load going to vegas. Right on 89, at the turn off to zions, there is a sign stating height restrictions or something, I can't remember. He didn't just follow the gps (which could have been just his phone) he blatantly ignored multiple signs posted along that route!

There is as bad as the CR England that tried to drive through the slc airport parking garage last year

 

THAT one was one for the ages!

 

there's no sign for high restrictions. only what TLEA pointed out.

COMMERCIAL TRUCKS PROHIBITED. SR9. it's right on the 89 at the turn.

and judging from the pics of that road. it's much faster to just keep going and take the 20 mile stretch of SR20 over to the 15 freeway.

 

I'll bet what happened is the driver decided to go that way, went all the way to the point where the restriction started, and then said the hell with it, I'm not going to turn around and drive 100+ extra miles. #### it, I'm just going to go through the park because I don't give a ####.

 

GPS, company directions, missed signs. All that aside he still came to this and chose to continue. Not SMRT