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[LM117]

Another one bites the bridge...

[roadman65]

Yup and the darn sign is flashing to turn off!  However, he ignores it just like the large yellow TOLL ROAD signs on toll roads get ignored and constantly show up with no money trying to say that they had no idea they were traveling a toll road.

[MikeTheActuary]

They saw the sign, or at least were aware that it was a low clearance.  Notice how they slowed down to a crawl, apparently thinking they could just barely make it.

The vehicles normally scalped by that overpass usually don't bother to slow down.

[Evan_Th]

They saw the sign, or at least were aware that it was a low clearance.  Notice how they slowed down to a crawl, apparently thinking they could just barely make it.

The vehicles normally scalped by that overpass usually don't bother to slow down.

And I'm noting that the main roof did make it; it was the black things sticking up (I don't know the term for them?) that didn't.  I wouldn't be surprised if he knew the height of the main roof and half-thought he could fit.

[triplemultiplex]

And I'm noting that the main roof did make it; it was the black things sticking up (I don't know the term for them?) that didn't.  I wouldn't be surprised if he knew the height of the main roof and half-thought he could fit.

Air conditioner.

[SidS1045]

Put up a reinforced sign saying "If you hit this sign you will hit that bridge".

The MassDCR, which has jurisdiction over the Storrow and Memorial Drive and Soldiers Field Road low-clearance bridges, took that idea and goes one better:  "Low Clearance" signs with heavy steel chains dangling from them.  MassDOT uses the same scheme on I-93 southbound in Charlestown (the portion known locally as "the lower deck," whose clearance is 13' 9").  Those chains make quite a racket if you hit them.  Throughout I-93, I-90 and their various ramps, on the portions of what was our "Big Dig" there are also multiple over-height sensors and VMS's ordering over-height vehicles to either stop and wait for assistance or divert to other roads.

It doesn't help.  Every fall, in late August and early September, the local radio stations hold contests to see who gets "Storrowed" first.  I can't recall if we've ever had a college-move-in period where multiple trucks didn't get Storrowed.  Because of Boston's large number of colleges and universities, most of those are probably out-of-towners.  I haven't seen any stats on the I-93/I-90 over-height sensors, maybe roadman knows how effective (or not) those are.

[plain]

Oh this reminds me, I meant to post this somewhere the other day but forgot so I'll post it here.

This is sort of the opposite: a case of an over height train hitting an automobile bridge

https://www.wric.com/news/local-news/richmond/train-derails-near-scotts-addition-in-richmond/

[wdcrft63]

Oh this reminds me, I meant to post this somewhere the other day but forgot so I'll post it here.

This is sort of the opposite: a case of an over height train hitting an automobile bridge

https://www.wric.com/news/local-news/richmond/train-derails-near-scotts-addition-in-richmond/

Thanks; I grew up in Richmond and recognize this location. When trucks hit the bridge in Durham, they stop. It's a lot harder to stop a train.

[SectorZ]

Put up a reinforced sign saying "If you hit this sign you will hit that bridge".

The MassDCR, which has jurisdiction over the Storrow and Memorial Drive and Soldiers Field Road low-clearance bridges, took that idea and goes one better:  "Low Clearance" signs with heavy steel chains dangling from them.  MassDOT uses the same scheme on I-93 southbound in Charlestown (the portion known locally as "the lower deck," whose clearance is 13' 9").  Those chains make quite a racket if you hit them.  Throughout I-93, I-90 and their various ramps, on the portions of what was our "Big Dig" there are also multiple over-height sensors and VMS's ordering over-height vehicles to either stop and wait for assistance or divert to other roads.

It doesn't help.  Every fall, in late August and early September, the local radio stations hold contests to see who gets "Storrowed" first.  I can't recall if we've ever had a college-move-in period where multiple trucks didn't get Storrowed.  Because of Boston's large number of colleges and universities, most of those are probably out-of-towners.  I haven't seen any stats on the I-93/I-90 over-height sensors, maybe roadman knows how effective (or not) those are.

I love that "Storrowed" has become its own official word in Boston vernacular. Even if someone from the area has never heard the term, they can likely guess what it means.

[CtrlAltDel]

Oh this reminds me, I meant to post this somewhere the other day but forgot so I'll post it here.

This is sort of the opposite: a case of an over height train hitting an automobile bridge

https://www.wric.com/news/local-news/richmond/train-derails-near-scotts-addition-in-richmond/

Thanks; I grew up in Richmond and recognize this location. When trucks hit the bridge in Durham, they stop. It's a lot harder to stop a train.

It looks like that particular bit of bridge has been struck before or something.

[edwaleni]

Oh this reminds me, I meant to post this somewhere the other day but forgot so I'll post it here.

This is sort of the opposite: a case of an over height train hitting an automobile bridge

https://www.wric.com/news/local-news/richmond/train-derails-near-scotts-addition-in-richmond/

Thanks; I grew up in Richmond and recognize this location. When trucks hit the bridge in Durham, they stop. It's a lot harder to stop a train.

It looks like that particular bit of bridge has been struck before or something.

Easier to lower the tracks than raise the bridge. Surprised they haven't done that yet.

[Dirt Roads]

Oh this reminds me, I meant to post this somewhere the other day but forgot so I'll post it here.

This is sort of the opposite: a case of an over height train hitting an automobile bridge

https://www.wric.com/news/local-news/richmond/train-derails-near-scotts-addition-in-richmond/

You have misinterpreted the visual information, but indeed some of the containers hit the bottom of the bridge.  The containers appear to have collided with the bridge stringers after the railcars derailed and the load rotated.  But this does emphasize something important about railroading and trucking.  The concept of "dynamic envelope" assumes a certain amount of vertical play due to load rotation (typically assumed as a worst-case single point failure of any suspension element).  But if the load rotates beyond that for any reason, "stuff" outside of the dynamic envelope is prone to getting smacked. 

On the railroad, we have a tighter dynamic envelope near track level on the assumption that we need to mount low-height equipment (such as switch machines and dwarf signals) closer to the tracks than would be permitted if those thingys were taller.  That is something you don't see much on roads.  But the same general rules apply to overheight trucks.  If a semi-truck has a suspension failure at the back end of its trailer, the opposite corner will raise up a few inches higher and potentially smack a low clearance obstruction (such as the Gregson Street Canopener).

I have seen all of the recordings on 11foot8.com prior to increasing the bridge clearance and don't recall any such collisions where one side of a truck got ripped worse than the other side.  But as frequent as the Gregson Canopener has been hit in the past, I'd bet that there's a good example somewhere in the collection.

It looks like that particular bit of bridge has been struck before or something.

What looks to be a burn mark here is probably an attempt to cover up graffiti on the bridge.  Cheap paint doesn't last very long.

[CtrlAltDel]

What looks to be a burn mark here is probably an attempt to cover up graffiti on the bridge.  Cheap paint doesn't last very long.

That would definitely explain it.

[mrsman]

Here is an interesting application that got the driver's attention on a lower overcrossing in Delaware.  Would a similar implementation help Gregson Street?

Casho Mill Road's new clanker balls prevented their first bridge strike the other day.
The new signs approaching the bridge read "STOP NOW! Or KABOOM" 

[davewiecking]

They saw the sign, or at least were aware that it was a low clearance.  Notice how they slowed down to a crawl, apparently thinking they could just barely make it.

The vehicles normally scalped by that overpass usually don't bother to slow down.

Well, the vehicle was still drivable after scraping underneath. Should be cited for littering, however.

[froggie]

It's been a LONG wait...8ish months....but the can opener finally had a meal last week:

[Rothman]

I suppose it's good that the efforts to increase clearance have been successful at reducing crashes.

[Bobby5280]

The 8 inch raise has helped a bit. I have a feeling a lot of these crashes wouldn't be happening if the motorists weren't driving while distracted. If they bothered taking their eyes off their damned smart phones and looked up at the outside world they might see the warning signs.

Here in Oklahoma it's illegal to text while driving. Now they're considering making it illegal to hold a mobile phone for any purpose while driving, basically requiring motorists to use hands free methods when taking calls. On military bases in Oklahoma it is already very illegal to be holding a mobile phone while driving. Locals here find out the hard way about that when driving onto Fort Sill.

[CtrlAltDel]

The 8 inch raise has helped a bit. I have a feeling a lot of these crashes wouldn't be happening if the motorists weren't driving while distracted. If they bothered taking their eyes of their damned smart phones and looked up at the outside world they might see the warning signs.

I don't know. The vast majority of the vehicles hitting the bridge are moving trucks. And so, I think the issue is that the drivers have forgotten what they're driving because they don't often drive vehicles that height. I'd bet that the most drivers see the sign, think to themselves, "I'm glad I'm not that idiot," and then hit the bridge.

[kkt]

Yes, it's mostly rented trucks with drivers not used to looking at overhead clearance.

[longhorn]

Why not drop the road bed a foot?

[froggie]

^ That spot's already a natural depression, so it would impact drainage.  Would also impact the railroad bridge piers, the adjacent intersection, and potentially the historic brick building in the southeast corner (where the bridge camera is located).

[Dirt Roads]

Why not drop the road bed a foot?

^ That spot's already a natural depression, so it would impact drainage.  Would also impact the railroad bridge piers, the adjacent intersection, and potentially the historic brick building in the southeast corner (where the bridge camera is located).

Most of these city underpasses in North Carolina (like this one at Gregson Street) have utilities in the street that would need to be lowered before the road can be lowered.  In the case of sanitary sewers, they may also need additional pumping capabilities.  Worse, the drain sewers may not be able to be lowered without lowering everything downstream.

During the ill-fated (then) TTA Regional Rail Program (almost 20 years ago), we got to work closely with the NCDOT Rail Division specialist on grade separations.  He gave a great history of the problems with the existing railroad underpasses.  In a nutshell, these old underpasses were placed on "main roads" that almost immediately became obsolete because of the advent of larger/taller trucks.  Only a few were large enough to continue to be utilized, and the rest of these were bypassed.  So you've got a situation where these little underpasses are on (now) minor streets that are not deserving of the necessary investment.  Because they are mostly used by cars, it is hard to justify closing them altogether (since it is often safer than routing the traffic over an adjacent grade crossing).

By the way, that fellow I mentioned is now the Director of the entire NCDOT Rail Division.  Looks like he is doing well.