New York rolls out flashing signs and more to stop trucks from hitting low-clearance Parkway bridge

New York State officials have installed new signage and more in hopes of stopping bridge strikes by over-height trucks on Onondaga Lake Parkway.

On February 12, New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced the completion of a safety enhancement project designed to stop bridge strikes on Onondaga Lake Parkway in the Village of Liverpool and Town of Salina, Onondaga County.

Since June 2023, crews have been at work on the project with a goal of stopping trucks from hitting a low-clearance railroad bridge that is owned by CSX.

The project includes:

• Enhancements to the existing over-height vehicle detection system to prevent false alarms
• New 36” by 36” LED blank out signs, located approximately 750 feet from the bridge in the eastbound direction and approximately 950 feet from the bridge in the westbound direction, which display a display a “No Truck” symbol when an over-height vehicle is detected
• Two new permanent, full-color Variable Message Sign (VMS) boards have also been installed in both directions of the Parkway and will be triggered, along with existing portable VMS boards, if an over-height vehicle is detected

Officials also noted that starting February 16, over-height vehicle or bridge strike violations carry a penalty of eight points on the driver’s record. Previously, no points were assessed for these violations.

“Bridge strikes are a serious issue that require sensible safety solutions, and that’s exactly what we’re doing on the Onondaga Lake Parkway,” Hochul said. “These innovative new countermeasures being implemented, combined with new DMV regulations that go into effect next week, will further prevent bridge strikes along the Parkway, and make this highway safer for all users of the road.”

“No stone has been left unturned by the Department of Transportation when it comes to preventing bridge strikes along Onondaga Lake Parkway and across the state. While we remain steadfast in looking at every possible safety measure, we continue to emphasize the vital role that all drivers play in preventing bridge strikes — that includes professional commercial drivers to individuals renting a box truck for a weekend move. Before even setting foot into a truck cab, every driver should “Check Your Height, Know It’s Right.” This simple step will go a long way in solving this persistent public safety issue,” said New York State Department of Transportation Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez.