Low Bridges

[Rolando]

Was driving the in country last night and found the lowest rail bridge I've ever crossed under! It's in the middle of nowhere,
https://goo.gl/maps/CxUbQht86bYGcGkd8
but at 9'10 and one lane wide, its really low. A tanker truck was in front of me. It came to a complete stop and had to make a detour, but no accident!

That got me thinking of a low crossing in San Antonio that I have never heard of getting hit, and it is less than 11'8" as well! They but a simple warning system as well, some plastic pipes hanging at the approach with the warning sign. (see the streeview)

https://goo.gl/maps/Yf47V6CxrKA4ouB76

I KNOW that the 11'8 bridge has a warning sign, and I'm sure dozens of trucks avoid hitting it, but how can it happen so damn often?

[SteveG]

sorry, I thought you said Lloyd Bridges

[testcase]

Truck driving USED to be an honorable profession staffed by PROFESSIONAL drivers. That ceased to be decades ago. These days, almost anybody with a pulse is allowed to drive big rigs. For all those unprofessional drivers, the thought of doing a thorough pre-check before hitting the road is an alien concept. The Rand McNally Motor Carriers' Road Atlas is the "bible" used by true professional drivers as a primary resource used in planning a safe route. There are LOTS of "electronic aids" available today for drivers but, a professional driver does NOT solely rely on such "aids" as many (most?) have "critical flaws" in the information the supply. I suspect the lawyers hobble said electronic aids in an attempt to mitigate corporate liability. The result is often that, a tall commercial vehicle (or RV) "meeting" a low clearance with dire consequences. Add in the fact that MANY of today's "regular" drivers have NO clue regarding "sharing the road"; a recipe for disaster.

[Thrift Store Scott]

This one used to be low and got hit all the time, but doesn't seem to any more. For the longest time it still had the original cobblestones underneath, but the city may have removed them and put a conventional road bed down to increase clearance by lowering the road instead of raising the bridge.

[Cary]

Where is that bridge? Very cool!

[Rolando]

Cary wrote:
Where is that bridge? Very cool!

Agree!

[voodoopenguin]

Rolando wrote:
Was driving the in country last night and found the lowest rail bridge I've ever crossed under! It's in the middle of nowhere,
https://goo.gl/maps/CxUbQht86bYGcGkd8
but at 9'10 and one lane wide, its really low.

How did the Google camera vehicle get through?

Paul

[richorlin]

For pure entertainment, you can't beat the 11'8" Canopener bridge.
They even have a rewcorderd video feed:
http://11foot8.com

They have a big sign that says "overheight must turn" and flashing liughts but still, the idiot truckers keep coming.

[testcase]

Somewhere on YouTube, there’ An 11’8” video compilation set to “Yakity Sax”. Very well done!

[Thrift Store Scott]

Rolando wrote:
[quote=Cary]
Where is that bridge? Very cool!

Agree!
14th Street between 1st Avenue North and 1st Avenue South in downtown Birmingham, Alabama.

About a block North of the baseball stadium adjacent to the West side of Railroad Park.