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11 Foot 8 – The Can-opener Bridge

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Re: 11 Foot 8 – The Can-opener Bridge

#81

Post by compiler-guy »

sixothree wrote: post #68
teraflop wrote: post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There are at least five signs at eye level on the road leading up to the bridge, four of which are the standard yellow warning signs: https://imgur.com/a/owITLZC In addition, the illuminated "OVERHEIGHT MUST TURN" sign flashes to attract attention. I get what you're trying to say, but this bridge is better-marked than the vast majority of road hazards one might encounter. There's a certain point beyond which it doesn…

And how's that working out for them? 100+ accidents?

The bridge just shrugs the hits off it is very tough. So the damage and the problems are really for the trucks not observant enough to see half a dozen warning signs and lights.

They are the ones who end up paying, not the railroad that owns the bridge.

Re: 11 Foot 8 – The Can-opener Bridge

#82

Post by compiler-guy »

sixothree wrote: post #31
chrisseaton wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

But that could happen anywhere in the country. What's so special about this bridge that means it gets so much coverage. It doesn't even seem extremely low.

It is low enough to exclude a large percentage of vehicles and it isn't exactly signed very well. It's just bad design.

It’s was within spec when it was built.

Re: 11 Foot 8 – The Can-opener Bridge

#83

Post by compiler-guy »

sixothree wrote: post #52
chrisseaton wrote: post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> That's why simple, clear signage helps. But the bridge is signed, isn't it?

If it were done well, would there have been 100+ accidents?

I used to drive under this bridge almost every day. It is remarkably well signed. But some people just can’t be reached. I’m reminded of the elective attention test.

http://www.theinvisiblegorilla.com/gorilla_experiment.html

Re: 11 Foot 8 – The Can-opener Bridge

#84

Post by compiler-guy »

chrisseaton wrote: post #55
sixothree wrote: post #52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If it were done well, would there have been 100+ accidents?

I guess I don't understand why tall vehicles are approaching a bridge at such speed that they don't have time to react. It doesn't seem an abnormally low bridge in the first place.

It is about two feet or so below modern standard for bridge clearance. But it was within spec when it was built.

Re: 11 Foot 8 – The Can-opener Bridge

#85

Post by mathgenius »

IMAYousaf wrote: post #36

What's beautiful about the 11 Foot 8 bridge is that quietly it's been a constant in my life. I distinctly remember watching the videos over a decade ago on this YT Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/yovo68 There's an element of schadenfreude that's so compelling in watching ordinary situations go terribly wrong.

I feel like slightly less of a fuck-up every time I watch one of these.

Re: 11 Foot 8 – The Can-opener Bridge

#86

Post by syshum »

johan_larson wrote: post #70

How about something counter-intuitive: lower the limit? There is a built-in hard limit imposed by the structure itself. Set the marked limit to something well short of that, like 8 feet. Then add very obvious soft barriers like light swinging bars to indicate the lower boundary. That would encourage anyone driving anything that might actually hit the hard limit to take an alternate route. (Of course, that means there…

" it’s not practical here. There are many overheight trucks that have to be able to drive right up to the bridge and turn onto Peabody St. in order to deliver supplies to several restaurants. Making Peabody St inaccessible from Gregson St would make the restaurant owners and the delivery drivers very unhappy." [1]

at the end of the it seems most of the trucks are often Rental Trucks drive by people that likely should not be driving a large truck in the first place. In the US you do not need a CDL or special endorsement to rent many of these UHaul type trucks since they do not have Air Brakes, all you need is a normal operators license.

[1]http://11foot8.com/11foot8-faq/

Re: 11 Foot 8 – The Can-opener Bridge

#88

Post by sebastien_b »

chrisseaton wrote: post #80
sebastien_b wrote: post #77

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Ever missed a single down-step and fell down/got tripped up? How could you possibly miss it??? I mean, it was right there in front of you ! I mean, it doesn’t matter that it “blended in” and wasn’t easily visible, and has no handrail, it was still right there .

> it doesn’t matter that it “blended in” and wasn’t easily visible It's a MASSIVE bridge, right in front of your face, and bright yellow warning bar.

THE POINT IS that the height difference isn’t that “massive” as you describe it - LOOK AT ALL THE VIDEOS (that’s right: plural) - it’s clear that the lack of clearance is not so obvious.

Re: 11 Foot 8 – The Can-opener Bridge

#89

Post by HeyLaughingBoy »

jacquesm wrote: post #47
chrisseaton wrote: post #42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Isn't the first and last thing anyone driving a tall vehicle is told that they should check the height of bridges before going under them?

Absolutely. And then you do it for a couple of hours concentrating on the road and driving the car between the lines nicely widthwise and you'll forget it when you need it most. I've done a lot of driving, some of it boxtrucks and larger and when you switch vehicles it is a thing that you need to remind yourself of constantly . The easiest solution would be to dig that road out to standard depth, the next best would…

Somewhat related to this is the problem of children being left in hot/cold cars accidentally.

When our son was very young (I often wondered if this was at the heart of kids being left in hot cars.

Anyway, I forced myself to get into the habit of always turning around and checking that the car seat was empty before getting out the car, every single time, just in case.

Of course, it never happened, but I can see how easy it is to forget stuff like this when you're simply not used to doing it.

Re: 11 Foot 8 – The Can-opener Bridge

#90

Post by rkagerer »

Animats wrote: post #53

The Sidney Harbor Tunnel had a similar problem. They came up with an elaborate but successful solution.[1] There are detectors and huge flashing warning signs that light up. Then, there's the last-chance sign. At the entrance to the tunnel, pumps force a curtain of water straight down across the entire roadway. Then a powerful laser system projects a giant octagonal red STOP sign onto the water curtain, filling the e…

They tried an electronic warning sign that lights up when a truck is too tall, but drivers still can't resist the lure of the hungry bridge: https://youtu.be/YQssl0sM9As?t=6, https://youtu.be/cZrOcCXNq5c?t=5, https://youtu.be/iQfSvIgIs_M?t=32

Might have been better off erecting a giant, no-tech billboard picturing a previous crash. But your projected water screen is awesome - they could buy one and play footage from these youtube videos while they wait on the red light.

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