Runaway truck ramps in urban areas

[cwf1701]

One in Alabama that I know of, US-431 entering Guntersville coming off Sand Mountain. https://www.google.com/maps/@34.3177504,-86.3103674,3a,19.4y,336.3h,82.82t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sukzV7TwYoJyrwRGyEl4BnQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

[STLmapboy]

One in Alabama that I know of, US-431 entering Guntersville coming off Sand Mountain. https://www.google.com/maps/@34.3177504,-86.3103674,3a,19.4y,336.3h,82.82t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sukzV7TwYoJyrwRGyEl4BnQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

Good one but mentioned upthread.

[hbelkins]

Two in Kentucky. One is on KY 11 in the city limits of Beattyville (pop. 1,000) and was built when the new route was constructed in 1980, bypassing a very steep hill that was the scene of a tragic gasoline tanker truck crash in 1977 that resulted in a fire that killed seven people. The current hill on KY 11 isn't really that steep, but the ramp was built probably as a PR effort.

The other is on KY 118 (Hyden spur off the Hal Rogers Parkway) approaching the T intersection with US 421/KY 80. It may be in the city limits of Hyden.

I don't believe there are any others.

You were at a junior high marching band competition when that 1977 accident occured, correct?

Close. I was a junior in high school, at a marching band competition in Owingsville, Ky. That was back in the days before cellphones, but word got to us just before we competed that there had been a tragic accident back home but none of our immediate relatives had been hurt or killed. The competition judges found out too, as they made reference to it on their comment tapes of the performance. (They recorded cassette tapes of the competition with their real-time commentary.)

[briantroutman]

Another one in the general LA area is here at the end of Kanan-Dume Rd, where it meets PCH.  This one's in the center divider, and they still call it an "escape ramp" even though it's level or even downhill.

There's a similar escape lane on the Angeles Crest Highway–although this one more accurately billed as a "Runaway Vehicle Escape Median"

That particular runaway lane figures prominently into the climax of an early "CHiPs" episode (season 1, episode 4: "Moving Violation" ). In the episode, Officer Poncherello rescues two senior citizens aboard a runaway stolen church bus (don't ask) by steering it into the median.

[TheCatalyst31]

Granted, it is south of the small town of Chester, so not exactly an urban area, but it is the only Runaway Truck Ramp in IL I have come across. There may be others in the state, tho

There's a second one around Chester near the river bridge.

Maybe I'm missing something, but that sign is pointing into what looks like a right turn lane with a stop sign at the end. If your brakes fail, you better hope there's no cross traffic, or cars trying to turn...

[ilpt4u]

Granted, it is south of the small town of Chester, so not exactly an urban area, but it is the only Runaway Truck Ramp in IL I have come across. There may be others in the state, tho

There's a second one around Chester near the river bridge.

Wow. I've driven past that one just a few times, and never noticed it there. I might head that way tomorrow and verify it is still actually there

As far as how effective that one is...I guess it is better to run away to the right turn lane and into the grass, instead of barrelling straight ahead into the railroad embankment before hitting the river

[briantroutman]

Granted, it is south of the small town of Chester, so not exactly an urban area, but it is the only Runaway Truck Ramp in IL I have come across. There may be others in the state, tho

There's a second one around Chester near the river bridge.

Maybe I'm missing something, but that sign is pointing into what looks like a right turn lane with a stop sign at the end. If your brakes fail, you better hope there's no cross traffic, or cars trying to turn...

I think I'm seeing the same thing you are. So this appears to be...not a true runaway truck ramp...but what you might call the "fighting chance"  approach to a runaway truck ramp. If you lose your breaks and head straight for the T intersection at Kaskaskia Street, you're almost certain to either collide spectacularly with an oncoming car, plow into the utility pole, or crash into the railroad embankment or embankment–or even a passing train.

But the right turn ramp, though it won't slow you down, will at least give you a chance to get your truck around the bend–hopefully oncoming Kaskaskia traffic will see your out-of-control truck tearing around the curve and yield–and then maybe you can coast to a stop going uphill on Kaskaskia.

Given that the lane is signed as a runaway truck ramp, my assumption would be that it's not to be used by other vehicles and that any right-turning traffic should proceed to the T intersection and make a hard right. Whether they do or not is another question, and I see on one of the Street View images that at least one pickup truck is pictured using the ramp casually as a turn lane. Arguably the most dangerous aspect of this design is the possibility that a vehicle would be stopped at the bottom of the curve waiting to make a right turn–and then get pummeled by a runaway truck. So I'd think that the entrance to the lane should be posted with something like RUNAWAY TRUCKS ONLY and perhaps diagonal pavement markings and collapsable bollards be added to discourage it from being used as a right turn lane.

[ilpt4u]

Granted, it is south of the small town of Chester, so not exactly an urban area, but it is the only Runaway Truck Ramp in IL I have come across. There may be others in the state, tho

There's a second one around Chester near the river bridge.

Maybe I'm missing something, but that sign is pointing into what looks like a right turn lane with a stop sign at the end. If your brakes fail, you better hope there's no cross traffic, or cars trying to turn...

I think I'm seeing the same thing you are. So this appears to be...not a true runaway truck ramp...but what you might call the "fighting chance"  approach to a runaway truck ramp. If you lose your breaks and head straight for the T intersection at Kaskaskia Street, you're almost certain to either collide spectacularly with an oncoming car, plow into the utility pole, or crash into the railroad embankment or embankment–or even a passing train.

But the right turn ramp, though it won't slow you down, will at least give you a chance to get your truck around the bend–hopefully oncoming Kaskaskia traffic will see your out-of-control truck tearing around the curve and yield–and then maybe you can coast to a stop going uphill on Kaskaskia.

Given that the lane is signed as a runaway truck ramp, my assumption would be that it's not to be used by other vehicles and that any right-turning traffic should proceed to the T intersection and make a hard right. Whether they do or not is another question, and I see on one of the Street View images that at least one pickup truck is pictured using the ramp casually as a turn lane. Arguably the most dangerous aspect of this design is the possibility that a vehicle would be stopped at the bottom of the curve waiting to make a right turn–and then get pummeled by a runaway truck. So I'd think that the entrance to the lane should be posted with something like RUNAWAY TRUCKS ONLY and perhaps diagonal pavement markings and collapsable bollards be added to discourage it from being used as a right turn lane.

Right turning traffic should use the T, as it is signed. It has the Yellow <–> sign for T intersections at it. If that runaway ramp were also a right turn lane, the sign would/should be Left Turn Only at the T

The Runaway Truck Ramp has an advanced sign, at the turn off from the Chester Bridge down to the riverfront Kaskaskia St: https://goo.gl/maps/5QWmagqK2q5viEk77

Also not sure if IDOT maintains this road, or if it is the City of Chester or Randolph County. It is signed as "Truck Bypass"  and the Great River Rd

[jeffandnicole]

Right turning traffic should use the T, as it is signed. It has the Yellow <–> sign for T intersections at it. If that runaway ramp were also a right turn lane, the sign would/should be Left Turn Only at the T

However, the warning signs only advise of an issue. In this case, you must turn left or right. It doesn't prohibit a turn elsewhere, in this case the right turn lane/runaway truck ramp. So absent of a "Trucks Only" or "Do Not Enter" sign, that so-called runaway truck ramp certainly can be lawfully used for right turns.

You can also see there that the route signs at the T intersection only point left. There's nothing pointing to the right at either location.

[GaryV]

The Google car went down the slip / runaway ramp.  It has a stop sign at the end, which would imply they expect other traffic to use it.  A runaway trunk wouldn't be able to stop.

[D-Dey65]

Outside of PA, NY 12 has one in the Utica suburbs.

"Controlled stop," huh? Is NYSDOT really that unaccustomed to the more familiar name for them? They must be, because if you get too close to it on Google Street View, they fog over the sign. Somebody has to add that thing to Wikimedia Commons.

I-95 SB & I-64 EB used to have one at the former toll plaza at Belvidere Street as there was a steep grade for semis approaching the tolls.  I am guessing that with the plaza gone, no need for trucks to have to slow down fast.

Why do I suspect the construction company that's there now tore it down?

[ilpt4u]

You can also see there that the route signs at the T intersection only point left. There's nothing pointing to the right at either location.

There is not a route marker pointing left, because only Kaskaskia St to the south is the Truck Bypass and part of the Great River Rd. Match that up with the markers at the IL side of the bridge, where it shows Truck Bypass and Great River Rd North, Ahead; Truck Bypass and Great River Rd South, Right (down the hill leading to this T and Runaway lane)

[thspfc]

The one in Chester looks safer than the one on IL-3, but that's not saying much.

[vdeane]

Outside of PA, NY 12 has one in the Utica suburbs.

"Controlled stop," huh? Is NYSDOT really that unaccustomed to the more familiar name for them? They must be, because if you get too close to it on Google Street View, they fog over the sign. Somebody has to add that thing to Wikimedia Commons.

Not really: http://nysroads.com/photos.php?route=ny28&state=NY&file=101_1914.JPG

I'm pretty sure both signs are in the same region, too (pun not intended).

Also, Google fogs over lots of signs.

[D-Dey65]

Outside of PA, NY 12 has one in the Utica suburbs.

"Controlled stop," huh? Is NYSDOT really that unaccustomed to the more familiar name for them? They must be, because if you get too close to it on Google Street View, they fog over the sign. Somebody has to add that thing to Wikimedia Commons.

Not really: http://nysroads.com/photos.php?route=ny28&state=NY&file=101_1914.JPG

Then I stand corrected.

Also, Google fogs over lots of signs.

True, they do. And too often I wonder why.'

[cbeach40]

North Bay, ON has one on Highway 11.
https://goo.gl/maps/btGbcZySciq7BsRr6

On a big hill, coming into the city and the first traffic signals drivers will have encountered in 154 km.

[MCRoads]

North Bay, ON has one on Highway 11.
https://goo.gl/maps/btGbcZySciq7BsRr6

On a big hill, coming into the city and the first traffic signals drivers will have encountered in 154 km.

Was just about to comment on that.

It also uses an unusual method to stop trucks, it uses cables under tension to stop them.

[gonealookin]

North Bay, ON has one on Highway 11.
https://goo.gl/maps/btGbcZySciq7BsRr6

On a big hill, coming into the city and the first traffic signals drivers will have encountered in 154 km.

Was just about to comment on that.

It also uses an unusual method to stop trucks, it uses cables under tension to stop them.

The improved ramp on NV 431 in Incline Village (GSV here) also uses the tensioned "drag nets" to stop the truck.  That ramp was upgraded in 2016 following some accidents when the ramp didn't perform quite as hoped.

(The ramp) failed on June 18, 2010. Frederick Matthews, 41, of San Diego was driving an out-of-control semi, and he hit the ramp and vaulted off, crashing into a private home at 645 Woodridge Circle.

The vehicle overturned and caught fire, setting the house ablaze. Matthews was trapped inside the truck cab and died.
...
At the time, the June 2010 incident marked the third major truck crash in the past nine years at the ramp, including a May 2002 incident when a truck carrying gypsum wallboard and a hydraulic lift was also sent airborne.

In that instance, the driver, 23-year-old Manuel Ortega-Portillo, suffered moderate head injuries and was airlifted for medical attention. The truck came to rest next to the same house on Woodridge Circle, which was damaged slightly from flying debris.

I find it interesting that the house has been rebuilt in the same location (GSV here showing house in relation to end of ramp).  That's more faith in the "improved technology" than I would have;  for me nights would be not much of this  and a lot of this        .

[lepidopteran]

In Wheeling, WV, there's an off-ramp with a yellow label reading "7% Grade".

Additionally, a separate warning sign reads "Trucks, check brakes before using Exit 1".

At the bottom of the ramp, the island formed by the channelized right has a surface of mostly gravel, possibly for minimal protection.

[ErmineNotyours]

Not urban, but I don't want to bump an older thread.

The southbound I-5 California Agricultural Inspection Station used to be signed, "All traffic must exit," leading me to wonder when traffic is allowed to use the normal looking, stripped regular freeway lanes.  Now exiting is the default and the old freeway is signed Brakeless trucks use freeway [left arrow].  I wonder if any crashed into the station.