MnDOT: Be Cautious When Approaching Bridges and Overpasses

A rash of recent bridge strikes in Minnesota has promoted the Minnesota Department of Transportation to remind truck drivers to be more cautious when approaching a bridge or overpass.

“Drivers of commercial vehicles and agricultural equipment are cautioned to be aware of their load height, to secure their loads and to pay attention to posted bridge heights,” MnDOT said in a press release.

According to the MnDOT, in the past month, five bridges in the Twin Cities have been hit.  In one crash, the cost of repairs to the bridge totaled $355,000.

MnDOT is reminding truck drivers “All bridges in the state that are 14 feet, 9 inches and lower have signs posted to warn drivers of heights.”

MnDOT released this list of reasons bridges are struck:

• trucks driving off approved routes
• loads not secured properly and shift or bounce from inconsistencies in the pavement
• vehicles that have a human or equipment failure such as a garbage truck that begins to lift to dump and the driver does not catch the action or lift warning systems that don’t work as intended
• special agriculture equipment too high to clear bridge height
• illegal loads of over height items that drivers hope to go unnoticed through the transportation system

The 511mn.org truckers’ webpage lists widths of lane closures and other restrictions.

MnDOT is experiencing an increase in the number of bridges hit by commercial vehicles. Please check your load height. http://t.co/yUq242ty3h

— OFCVO Permits (@mndotoversize) October 17, 2014