Discussions

Mama3 said "I still think instead of yellow flashing lights it should be red. Yellow is caution red is stop! "

Mama3 may be on the right track here.. Unfortunately if the truck drivers miss the warning signs then there is a pretty good chance they will miss the flashing red lights too. How about putting up standard traffic lights on either side just prior to the high load turn around. The light would be green unless a high load was detected by the sensor. Then the light would turn yellow and then to red stopping the truck and giving the driver a moment of pause and time to see the over height warning flashers.

Irie Mon said "    Mama3 said "I still think instead of yellow flashing lights it should be red. Yellow is caution red is stop! " Mama3 may be on the right track here.. Unfortunately if the truck drivers miss the warning signs then there is a pretty good chance they will miss the flashing red lights too. How about putting up standard traffic lights on either side just prior to the high load turn around. The light would be green unless a high load was detected by the sensor. Then the light would turn yellow and then to red stopping the truck and giving the driver a moment of pause and time to see the over height warning flashers. "

sad that you would have to resort this type of warning when there are already multiple warning devices and signs.

Trevor B said "The standard height of an intermodal (sea container) is 2.6m. Then add in the height of the trailer it was on.   https://www.mrbox.co.uk/shipping-containers/     The deck height of the chassis that the container is on 1.2m.   http://prohaul.com/40intermodal.html     So that's an overall height of 3.8m and the bridge height is 3.7m. "

if your measurements are correct the driver should have been able to make it, or had been close (1/2" difference if my math is correct). Most bridges have a little wiggle room in there for error, but like I have said MANY times in other threads on this is that 3.7m (12.14') is from the ground up to the beam of the bridge and the problem is the angles leading up to and leaving the bridge. Maybe....just MAYBE if Highways would change the signs to represent the height of an average van entering the bridge it might make people stop and take notice. Cause as someone that used to haul over sized loads the difference between 3.7 and 3.8 (12.46') is enough in most cases to make it. If it was changed to a closer measurement of probably 2.8 for the average van (just guessing) 90% would stop. And the argument of "the lights should be enough" does not obviously stop them or they take the same chance that I have (and been lucky) to make that 1/2" clearance. Not all drivers take into consideration the angle of approach, cause they are in a hurry to deliver the load and it's only going to get worse with E-logs coming into play!

After all of this discussion, it is still the bridge's fault? Righty-o.

Punish the Normal or another way is we can not fix stupid.  
 
Two suggestions irk me. One - we have a crap load of signs and falshing lites but noooo it is not enough. Some want a red one. A red light that forces everyone to stop because the other signs are the "right" one. a top sign or red light is also a invution to a rear end colllision I figure. Second raise or move the bridge. Maybe but it is not the issue it is the driver. Why make CP pay for a new bridge when the last one was approved by highways.  
 
 
If the taxpayers weant to pay for a new one plus CP or CN's down time fine. I think us taxpayers have other prjects more needy!.  
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Doug said "Punish the Normal or another way is we can not fix stupid.     Two suggestions irk me. One - we have a crap load of signs and falshing lites but noooo it is not enough. Some want a red one. A red light that forces everyone to stop because the other signs are the "right" one. a top sign or red light is also a invution to a rear end colllision I figure. Second raise or move the bridge. Maybe but it is not the issue it is the driver. Why make CP pay for a new bridge when the last one was approved by highways.       If the taxpayers weant to pay for a new one plus CP or CN's down time fine. I think us taxpayers have other prjects more needy!.   . "

would be a re-route of 1A around Kemnay and have an at grade crossing. No overpass/rail bridge would be needed.  
 
Edited by Trevor B, 2018-02-11 11:47:20

If the underpass bridge hasn't flinched from countless trailers being stuck/torn open, heavy equipment being knocked off their flatbeds and now a heavy shipping container being completely crushed... Leave it alone. That sucker is more solid when compared to the newer builds. Look at the Portage overpass with it's concrete design... A couple of hits and now twelve feet of it (an entire lane up-top) is missing. I say let these dumb@$$es keep hitting it. I'm starting to enjoy the carnage of the trailers. Why should we pay for changes when its pretty obvious that the bridge is proven to last? Mark the 1A as a non-truck route and be done with the complaints.  
 
Just my opinion, I could be wrong.

As a former OTR truck driver, here's my 2 cents. This is plain old lack of skill and/or knowledge, not distraction or malfunctioning warning lights.  
No driver under ANY circumstance should drive under an overhead obstruction unless they KNOW there is enough clearance. A truck driver has to know how high the vehicle is. If they don't know, they need to find out. It isn't difficult.  
Legal height is 4.15 m, or 13'7". ALL overhead structures that cross a highway that are even CLOSE to that clearance are clearly marked.In fact, in Manitoba, anything that is under 5 m is marked. The flashing over height signs and lights shouldn't even be necessary.  
I have never in my career approached a bridge or overhead structure without looking for the sign indicating overhead clearance that lets me KNOW I can safely pass under the structure.  
 
Edited by MichaelB., 2018-02-14 15:54:04

So? Are you saying it is not the fault of the bridge? That it didn't jump put from behind a bush? That maybe the driver could have done a better job of driving.

Build a level crossing adjacent to the underpass and make it physically impossible for large trucks to access the approach to the underpass.

Other jurisdictions are spending fortunes separating railways and roadways, with good reason. No matter how many safety features you install, people get killed at level crossings.  
 
Also, there is a large industrial user (Pioneer) just east of the crossing and a junction just west of it, so a level crossing there would be guaranteed to cause delays and complaints due to trains stopped and blocking the crossing at inconvenient times.  
 
The only real fix is to bite the bullet and spend the money on a proper over or underpass. Any money spent on short term solutions is completely wasted. We're better off spending the funds on a permanent solution rather than spending them on upgrades that are really only stop gap solutions.  
 
Edited by MichaelB., 2018-02-15 09:18:16

There already is a level crossing that goes by the pioneer elevator. It is where the trucks that are too high are supposed to go. It is likely time to route 1a around kemnay and make it a proper bypass with an overpass for the tracks.

right on the bridge, not 1/4 or 1 mile away, as they have on some low bridges in Winnipeg

my22cents said "right on the bridge, not 1/4 or 1 mile away, as they have on some low bridges in Winnipeg "

There is an idea to have the lights on the bridge like a big flashing light over height stop sign. the sensors could be way before with say another warning light before flashing to, then lower the speed limit more.  
 
Then if the stupid ones or anybody that can't understand french or English hits it they could be nailed for dangerous driving loose their licence or have to appeal it, and pay thousands in fines.  
 
Getting the book thrown at them as they clearly are not safe driving a truck because they can't follow safety signs, might get the point across after a while  
 
This sounds like the best and cheapest kind of idea so far, I've seen about this bridge and guys hitting it.