The 11foot8 bridge opens another big can

There was a good streak about a year ago, then a like 9 months break until today

It’s better, but 12’ 4” is still lower than usual, so it still snags some trucks that blow through the warning lights.

For more bridge webcam nonsense, check out Needles Underpass!

FWIW the red light is the “hey you’re too tall” signal and changes pretty quickly. Almost feels like it shouldn’t even have a yellow light, just dump straight to red and hope the truck slams on its brakes.

Oil for the oil Lord!

If you've followed the news and history of this bridge, the city did actually try. They increased the clearance from the original 11 ft 8 in to 12 ft 4 in, but that's still a bit too low for large vehicles. There's limited room to expand since that bridge is a rail bridge and there are utilities under the ground.

Because of the weirdness drivers know they have to pay attention or else death and injury awaits.

That is one thing I admire about chaotic roads. I remember hearing the rule of crossing the street in Hanoi is to just look where you want to go and walk in a straight line at a constant speed, and expect traffic to work around you. Standardization and signage really just exists to make driving easier.

Maybe they do it for brand awareness now.

From the faq.

The signage is good, and the vast majority of truck drivers notice the problem and avoid the bridge. Large signs alert driver to the low clearance several blocks before the bridge. Half a block before the trestle, a sensor detects overheight vehicles and triggers an LED blackout warning sign that was installed in May 2016. That same sensor also triggers a red-light phase at the traffic light directly in front of the trestle (installed in March 2016), so the driver has 50 seconds to read the warning sign next to the red traffic light and consider their next move.

For them to even be in this position, they have to ignore several signs, a flashing sign, and run a red light. Some people simply can't be helped.

Stopping doesn't make the vehicle shorter! This is a common myth, especially among large oversize vehicle drivers in this area.

Part of the problem is that we've got a hodgepodge of roads, built at different times, to different standards. Rail crossings are also complicated, because the train companies own the rails and the land under them, so cities are largely unable to force them to make changes to their property.

In this particular instance, the tracks would need to be redone for a few miles on either side of the bridge to raise it, and the North Carolina Train Company just isn't willing to front the cost and eat the downtime. There's only so far you can dig down before you hit groundwater problems, so the city can't do much to lower the road under the bridge.

No problem tin can head!

Its been 11' 8+8" for a while - are you saying they're raising it again? Thought this was a high as they could get it without interrupting the rail line

That bridge is for a train track. Raising it would be a large, expensive, time consuming project. If you’re changing the grade of a train track, it will need to be long, gradual, and smooth.