The 4th bridge collision of 2022 has residents in one upstate New York town questioning the competency of truckers passing through the area.
The Onondaga Lake Parkway bridge in Liverpool has been struck 24 times in the last three years, with 4 so far already this year. The 10 foot, 9 inch bridge is known to be too short to local truck drivers, but those drivers just following their GPS don’t have the luxury of local knowledge.
Currently, there is a proposed project aimed at enhancing safety for motorists and truck drivers by reducing speeds, enhancing signage, and replacing the overheight vehicle detection system,” according to the Department of Transportation, but residents say they aren’t sure more signs and lights will do the trick.
“I just really think that people are not paying attention… I’ve seen them do things to make it more visible over the years, but they still hit it,”” said Darius Johnson, a resident of Liverpool.
“It has to be as simple as that because there are so many signs before you even get there. And then me—if I’m driving, and I’m in a truck, I’m not even going to take a chance.”
“…It doesn’t move,” he continued. “The bridge stays in one spot.”
“I think it’s the truck driver’s fault. Like, if you don’t know how tall your truck is, you probably shouldn’t be driving the truck,” added another Liverpool resident to CNY Central News.
In response to the recent bridge strike, the New York DOT says that they “encourage the use of commercial GPS systems by truck operators that specifically account for height, weight, and other road restrictions.”