Despite several efforts by City of Tonawanda traffic personnel to alert truck drivers to the low clearance of the Young Street CSX railroad bridge, another tractor-trailer became wedged beneath the span Tuesday evening.
It is at least the fourth time the bridge has been hit this year, and there have been 24 incidents since 2000.
Police say the driver of the vehicle, whose name was not released but is from Ontario, was traveling north on Young and was relying on his global positioning system for directions.
“He didn’t see the bridge until it was too late,” said Lt. Scott Sheehan. “He saw the sign at the bridge at the last second, slammed on his brakes, and the truck slid underneath.”
There are two signs alerting truck drivers to the bridge’s low clearance — listed at 11 feet, six inches —before the final sign posted at the bridge itself.
Following recommendations from the city’s traffic safety board, the city this past summer installed signs farther from the bridge, some with orange flags crossed above, to enhance driver awareness.
Still, truckers are striking the bridge. GPS systems, which don’t include bridge heights, are being blamed as truckers traveling to and from Canada seek alternate routes to avoid paying high per-axle tolls to travel over Grand Island.
A passerby who asked not to be identified said he had a conversation with a police officer that seems to support the GPS theory.
“Every truck driver mentioned he was too busy watching his GPS than on what they’re doing,” the passerby said.
The board and city council are still examining options to divert truck traffic from the bridge.
The driver, who was heading to Mississauga, Ontario with a truckload full of wine, was charged with failure to obey a traffic control device and exceeding bridge clearance.
Contact night city editor John Hopkins at 693-1000, ext. 150.
Local News
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Don Swarts/Contributor
December 1, 2009
CITY OF TONAWANDA: Young Street railroad bridge struck again
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