UPDATE: Truck Sticks Under Main Street Rail Bridge, Blocking Morning Traffic
Tractor-trailer's rig freed from low-clearance pitfall with tow truck.
Photos
A tractor-trailer truck driver missed several warning signs on Main Street this morning, sticking his rig under the Main Street Rail bridge and blocking traffic for about three and a half hours.
The driver, Gerald Emerson of Tennessee, drove his truck under the bridge near Chan's Restaurant at about 7:26 a.m. this morning, according to Woonsocket Police Public Information Officer Jamie Paone.
Two officers responded to the bridge to direct traffic away from the site while the tow truck was removed from the tight spot.
Traffic on Main Street and Rail Road Street were cleared by 11 a.m. Main Street was cleared first, Paone said, with Rail Road Street following shortly after. The tractor-trailer was freed using a tow truck, she said, without removing the cargo.
The truck was registered to Big G Express Inc. of Tennessee. Emerson was cited for failing in obedience to traffic control devices - specifically, the signs warning big trucks away from the bridge.
Paone said the bridge catches unwary truck drivers a few times a year.
la_mouffette
12:36 pm on Monday, December 3, 2012
Every six months, it never fails!
Why don't they see the signs? We need a better labeling system, I guess...
The Bloofer Lady
2:04 pm on Monday, December 3, 2012
Jamie Paone's doing a fantabulous job over there at the WPD.
JJ
10:53 am on Tuesday, December 4, 2012
It happens more frequent that that la-mouffette :(
Kyle
4:06 pm on Tuesday, December 4, 2012
He probably thought he could make it, and probably didn't know how his truck's clearance. I think he may be the first to make it halfway or more through.
la_mouffette
8:18 am on Wednesday, December 5, 2012
Now that photos have been posted, I was just about to say the same thing.
This guy made it pretty far before disaster struck!
Wayne Boucher
7:59 pm on Tuesday, December 4, 2012
this borders on the absurd it was less then 2 months ago that an excavator was destroyed. This is easily fixed a pre bridge of chains hang down to the max headroom.Anyone ever been to Logan airport.
Anonymous
8:18 am on Wednesday, December 5, 2012
The first sign located at Monument Square that warns trucks, is bent and shows NO actual direction. I work at 1 Social Street, right before the Stadium theatre. I cant tell you how many times trucks have seemed bewildered by the signs. I've had to "re-direct" trucks on more that one occasion. They dont make the truck detour signs very clear neither. If they arent going to make clear signs, or raise the trussel, then they are going to deal with these incidents all the time
English first
10:34 am on Wednesday, December 5, 2012
I think it has to do with the dip under the bridge. The trucks actually drive under the bridge at the right hight, but if the truck is long it may not make the dip. Just a thought.