Scratch one covered bridge...

[Bigtanker]

I remember seeing this a few years ago. Pretty ingenious.

 

[Frosty]

Indiana 42 southeast of Cloverdale is closed at the Iron Bridge that spans Mill creek. I suspect it will be replaced.

At least it wasn’t from a semi destroying it

 

[Frosty]

I wonder how much it costs to install a set of I beams before each bridge like the 11'8 bridge has? Set them not at the height of a semi, but a few feet lower. So since the average trailer height is 13.5' set the beam at 10'. replacing or righting a beam has to be cheaper than fixing a bridge.

Hell, we could probably install beams at all bridges for less than the rebuild cost of one bridge. And I'd bet the locals would happily fund their bridge's beams.

I bet the farmers would have a fit.

 

[Cameramonkey]

I bet the farmers would have a fit.

Why? Their tractors and implements wouldnt likely fit through the bridge either.

 

[Frosty]

Why? Their tractors and implements wouldnt likely fit through the bridge either.

I assumed you were talking about the old iron bridges, so no, you’re right they likely wouldn’t be bothered about protecting the old covered bridges.

 

[Timjoebillybob]

We have a one lane, steel bridge over the Wabash in Battleground, Indiana.

Not the same situation, but it’s shut down due to folks exceeding the weight limit. I wish people would pay atttention.

I believe they are beefing it up for the long term. Not as nice looking as the covered bridges.


View attachment 216162

I've been over that one. There's one in Monticello as well, never went over it in a vehicle even before they closed it to traffic.

I remember a scary bridge up in Porter Co., one lane over railroad tracks. It wasn't straight it had at least one angle/corner in it.

 

[KLB]

I remember seeing this a few years ago. Pretty ingenious.

That is really cool.

 

[tv1217]

And I have seen this a BUNCH.

He means like... often weekly. I've personally seen one on the way in(start of shift) and a different one on the way out(end of shift)

I've also heard of a possible hat trick once.

 

[chipbennett]

I'm pretty sure the semi driver in the OP was last seen on Raceway just south of US36 in Avon. About once a month or so, truck drivers try to play chicken with the railroad bridge.

(Spoiler alert: the bridge is undefeated. And Town of Avon/Avon Police Department social media accounts are savage.)

 

[singlestacksig]

I remember seeing this a few years ago. Pretty ingenious.

if they don't see the height limit sign , they won't see this .. it's obvious that a physical impact is what is needed to stop the idiots..
put a bar across before the bridge..

 

[Tactically Fat]

11foot8 is fantastic. I think they've even done some infrastructure work around that bridge to lower the ground level under it and gave it more clearance. But there are so many utilities and it's such an important/busy railroad, they (the RR) can't afford to not have those tracks open for the 148 months it would take to reconstruct.

I'm thankful that most / all the covered bridges in IN have been closed to vehicular traffic for a long long time now. I'm sure some were open 30 years ago, but that wasn't many. I know the one in Darlington has been closed to vehicular traffic since 1974.

 

[Cameramonkey]

11foot8 is fantastic. I think they've even done some infrastructure work around that bridge to lower the ground level under it and gave it more clearance. But there are so many utilities and it's such an important/busy railroad, they (the RR) can't afford to not have those tracks open for the 148 months it would take to reconstruct.

I'm thankful that most / all the covered bridges in IN have been closed to vehicular traffic for a long long time now. I'm sure some were open 30 years ago, but that wasn't many. I know the one in Darlington has been closed to vehicular traffic since 1974.

Yep. Its now known as the "11'8+8" bridge. The railroad figured out it was 8" below the rest of the tracks and spent a week or two raising the deck 8" to make it absolutely level.

 

[MRockwell]

Looks like he got far enough in the bridge that you can't see the Swift logo on the trailer...

 

[xwing]

I wonder how much it costs to install a set of I beams before each bridge like the 11'8 bridge has? Set them not at the height of a semi, but a few feet lower. So since the average trailer height is 13.5' set the beam at 10'. replacing or righting a beam has to be cheaper than fixing a bridge.

They shouldn't set them lower. Why block even legitimate traffic? The 11'8" bridge seems like it has a good setup. A large beam right before the bridge at the same height of the bridge.

But IMO it still shouldn't be done. It will ruin the look of the historic covered bridge. Better / more obvious height signage before the bridge would be helpful. But in reality, you can't fix stupid. If the semi-truck driver is on the hook for the cost of repair, that's all you can do.

 

[KLB]

They shouldn't set them lower. Why block even legitimate traffic? The 11'8" bridge seems like it has a good setup. A large beam right before the bridge at the same height of the bridge.

But IMO it still shouldn't be done. It will ruin the look of the historic covered bridge. Better / more obvious height signage before the bridge would be helpful. But in reality, you can't fix stupid. If the semi-truck driver is on the hook for the cost of repair, that's all you can do.

Put it at the intersection before the bridge

 

[amjindiana]

I'm in Fort Wayne and have seen it more than once with box trucks trying to squeeze under railroad crossing/bridges. Top foot just sheared right off, the guy standing there on the phone trying to figure out what to do.

 

[rosejm]

guy standing there on the phone trying to figure out what to do.

Get ready to pee!

 

[amjindiana]

Get ready to pee!

I cant even imagine the shame lol. Everyone driving by slowly, shaking their heads.

 

[actaeon277]

He means like... often weekly. I've personally seen one on the way in(start of shift) and a different one on the way out(end of shift)

I've also heard of a possible hat trick once.

the best was the roof of a big cat (Caterpillar) get it's roof peeled off.

 

[Cameramonkey]

Put it at the intersection before the bridge

Exactly It doesnt have to be AT the bridge. Just make it so that they cant even get TO the bridge.