The wonder of bridges

[rick_b]

Picked up a Gregory’s trailer on Friday from North Tawton and the forkie told me it was going to Pet Plas in Leeds I’d been before and it’s a decent drop.

Righto I said and thinking out loud I said I’ll check the map while you’re loading…he gave me a funny look as though I had suddenly developed another head

I quickly thought about what I had just said (look at map for Leeds ) and then explained that most of our trailers are between 14’ 3" and 15’ and this one was 15’ 6" and out of curiosity and plenty of pre planning I wanted to know whether I had to think about anything or I could go the usual way.

I explained to him that I was an ex flat bed rope and sheet man and still in the habit of checking bridge heights.

He laughed and went on to explain that one of the lads in their garage should have done the same when road testing a trailer. When you come out of Gregory’s yard you have to turn left and then follow road to a T junction where a left turn is all clear and a right turn takes you to a bridge 14’ 3" (I think). Apparently this lad often goes right for road testing units and obviously didn’t think about the height of the trailer - the inevitable happened Funny though there were no photographs of it on the notice board was this kept quiet for a reason

It is one of my little dreads having the embarrassment of hitting a bridge through my own fault - similar to getting stuck taking a shortcut and having the police reverse guide you out but that’s another story

[rob_k]

Jim’s the one to ask about low bridges mate

[pat_hasler]

At least you usually get fair warning over there here you usually drive down a road and get 500 yards from the bridge before you see a sign, There is one bridge on I-87 near Clifton Park NY that has the warning sign just before the bridge what the hell you are suposed to do if you are over the limit I don’t know It’s an interstate with no U turns

[dave_1]

Pat Hasler:
At least you usually get fair warning over there here you usually drive down a road and get 500 yards from the bridge before you see a sign, There is one bridge on I-87 near Clifton Park NY that has the warning sign just before the bridge what the hell you are suposed to do if you are over the limit I don’t know It’s an interstate with no U turns

interstate the roads over there are in a right state then again there is a lot of them.

[pat_hasler]

dave:

Pat Hasler:
At least you usually get fair warning over there here you usually drive down a road and get 500 yards from the bridge before you see a sign, There is one bridge on I-87 near Clifton Park NY that has the warning sign just before the bridge what the hell you are suposed to do if you are over the limit I don’t know It’s an interstate with no U turns

interstate the roads over there are in a right state then again there is a lot of them.

I agree with the ‘Right state’ statement Potholes everywhere and on one stretch of the Van Wyck expressway there is an 3 inch thick steel plate covering whatmust be a very large hole, this plate also has very large rivets sticking up out of it.

[kitkat]

Rob K:
Jim’s the one to ask about low bridges mate

oh your so funny…not

[alexxinny]

Pat Hasler:
At least you usually get fair warning over there here you usually drive down a road and get 500 yards from the bridge before you see a sign, There is one bridge on I-87 near Clifton Park NY that has the warning sign just before the bridge what the hell you are suposed to do if you are over the limit I don’t know It’s an interstate with no U turns

Well, Pat, according to the US federal highway code, all bridges on the interstate system must be at least 13’6" high. Also in the code is a requirement that if you have a load over 13’6" high, you must have an oversize permit, pilot car, route plan, and must’ve filed that plan with the state DOT of the states you are going through and recieved approval.

In short, anybody who is overheight on I-87 is legally required to have a permit and a route plan,as well as a pilot car with a pole at the height of the load. Anybody who didn’t do this is breaking the law, and gets what they deserve.

[allrighty]

So I take it they have never heard of double decker trailers over there? And the yanks think we are backwards? LOL This is just killing me with laughter, I cant stop, no honestly i cant stop

Stop it you’re killing me

[denis_f]

AlexxInNY:
Well, Pat, according to the US federal highway code, all bridges on the interstate system must be at least 13’6" high. Also in the code is a requirement that if you have a load over 13’6" high, you must have an oversize permit, pilot car, route plan, and must’ve filed that plan with the state DOT of the states you are going through and recieved approval.

are US feet the same as UK ones ■■? cos Motorway bridges this side of the pond are 16’6"

funny little low trailers you’re using over there

[smudger]

I find that the bridges in Holland are a bit suspect and I alway feel the need to slow right down when I go under. Never hit a bridge yet thank god but I am always wary of the fact.

[alexxinny]

The most common trailer here in the US is 13’6" tall, 8’6" wide, 53’ long.