I think the problem is more about finding somewhere to put a gantry rather than the cost. Same with the electronic beam. There is one in Bromsgrove, 12’ 9", and I used to take a 14’ trailer to a nearby trading estate. It was amusing to me, to set off all the alarms, but probably not to the people in the nearby offices.
The Blackwall Tunnel used to have dangly chains but they obviously weren’t enough to deter the idiots. Big problem they have is that a slightly overheight truck would scrape all the lights off the roof. I got caught there once: Driving an ERF with a trailer marked up as 13 feet high. I didn’t get as far as the chains because the alarms went off and I was diverted up the sinners lane, where I had to wait for the tunnel police. They measured me at 13’ 6" but let me off because the trailer had the wrong height painted on it. I think it had been measured on a Volvo with a lower 5th wheel.
This may be of interest:
A combined over-height detection and vehicle identification system has been installed at London’s Blackwall Tunnel to protect the structure that, in the oldest bore, has different lane heights of 4m and 2.8m for each lane. The system combines Over-Height Vehicle Detectors (OVD) and Over-Height Vehicle Lane Detectors (OVLD) from the Coeval Group; and variable message warning signs and a vehicle detection unit both manufactured and supplied by Variable Message Signs (VMS) Ltd; as well as ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) cameras.
The installation project in 2012 was coordinated by VMS for Transport for London and installed by Serco. PIPS Technology supplied six P372 Spike+ ANPR cameras. These components were used for two systems at different distances (3km and 500m) from the tunnel portal, to alert drivers (by number plate) and divert over-height vehicles to the other lane or alternative routes across the River Thames. David Hargreaves, Principal VMS Engineer for VMS said: “The key of this system is the speed at which all equipment operates to enable the licence plate information to be displayed in time for the driver to view it.”
I went through the Blackwall tunnel at the weekend and there is a sign there saying 41 over height vehicles have held up traffic in the last month. That’s over 1 a day that’s an awful lot considering it is so well marked from a long way away.
dani1972:
I went through the Blackwall tunnel at the weekend and there is a sign there saying 41 over height vehicles have held up traffic in the last month. That’s over 1 a day that’s an awful lot considering it is so well marked from a long way away.
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I’m thinking a large majority of those will drive with flip flops on and ‘no speeka moocho Englees’, quite possibly following Satnavs.
Roymondo:
Why? Surely if the bridge height is overstated it’s not a problem?
Overstated logically means the sign says the bridge is higher than it actually is.IE the bridge is lower than the stated height.
and it is logic that is missing when bridge heights are only investigated retrospectively and the results filed away without the need to communicate the findings
dani1972:
I went through the Blackwall tunnel at the weekend and there is a sign there saying 41 over height vehicles have held up traffic in the last month. That’s over 1 a day that’s an awful lot considering it is so well marked from a long way away.
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The height of the Blackwall is questionable as I can go through 4m bridges and tunnels in Holland and Germany yet got stopped from going through the Blackwall by the sensors. On being measured by the police was sitting just below 4m and also been measured at 3.9 by the sensor at DSV in Killingholme so guess an extra layer of tarmac has been laid and signs not adjusted accordingly.
HDL:
If you are going to hit a bridge,at least hit it properly.
Proper job !!
Yep…even Eddie would be proud of that one…
Quality, and to quote the maoster: Go large or go home!
And with reference to something said on another thread about some modern body’s being flimsy. I bet they wish their’s was flimsier!
Carryfast:
Because they’ve seen the ‘bridge’ but they’ve totally forgotten all about the height of the ‘truck’. In which case the idea of hanging heavy chains from a gantry isn’t to remind them that there is a bridge in plain sight ahead of them.It’s to create the situation of the driver hearing,possibly even feeling,a massive loud ‘BANG’ against the trailer/truck body then saying wtf was that and hopefully anchoring up before the even bigger bang that would/will happen if they keep going.Having said the the Blackwall obviously takes that idea of ‘massive BANG’ to a new level.
Hmmmmm maybe.
But I cant help feeling that if a great big sign is being missed then the driver isnt paying attention so having a chain would be a bit like chucking a deckchair off the titanic
If the chain system really worked I think we would see it implemented at all frequently hit bridges
Instead a few places have an electronic system which clearly costs a lot more money…
Those chains didn’t stop a driver from dragging a gantry half way through the tunnel before.
earlier this week one of Bowring’s low loaders carrying a big excavator hit the bridge on the A617 heading into Chesterfield…with the machine coming off thr trailer and causing traffic chaos
carryfast-yeti:
earlier this week one of Bowring’s low loaders carrying a big excavator hit the bridge on the A617 heading into Chesterfield…with the machine coming off thr trailer and causing traffic chaos
