Crane accident calls attention to antiquated height of First Street bridge
A Richmond bridge hit by way of truck Wednesday was built before modern bridge height standards took effect, in line with Virginia Department of Transportation spokeswoman Lindsay LeGrand.
CBS6��s Mark Holmberg said the Honda Civic women was driving on Wednesday was crushed through the booms of a quality crane that were scraped off a flatbed truck through the First Street bridge Wednesday afternoon.
LeGrand told CBS6 the primary Street bridge I-95 in Richmond was internal 1958, and its clearance height varies on the entire bridge.
At the smallest point for the First Street bridge, the clearance height is thirteen feet eleven inches, however the truck involved in Wednesday��s incident hit the bridge with a point the place that the clearance height in fourteen feet five inches, according to LeGrand.
That is 24 months before modern bridge height standards took effect, based on the U.S. Department of transportation��s website.
The DOT website says prior to 1960, 14 feet was sufficient with the minimum height of the bridge.
But, after 1960, the minimum height for just a bridge grew up to 16 feet.
Virginia law requires all trucks to become 13 feet 6 inches or shorter, and police charged the motive force involved in Wednesday��s crash with equipment being over height.
Truck drivers we spoke to said it falls with them to ensure their trucks will not exceed 13 feet 6 inches.
��In case you load a truck, measure it, when you��re done, measure it again,�� veteran teamster, Jay Ball said.
��Definitely be aware of your road signs for ones bridges springing up,�� new teamster, Marvin Fye said.
Still, CBS 6 wished to know why the bridge hasn��t been rebuilt to fulfill modern height standards, especially, after LeGrand confirmed Wednesday��s crash wasn��t initially the primary Street bridge have been hit by way of a truck.
LeGrand said there aren’t any offers rebuild the primary Street bridge because it’s in good shape.
However, you will find plans to rebuild another bridge on I-95 up the road in Hanover, the Lewistown Bridge.
The clearance height on that bridge is 14 feet, 7 inches, but VDOT intends to reconstruct the bridge to over 16 feet to create it in line with modern standards.
LeGrand said the Lewistown Bridge is a priority for VDOT due to its condition, widening needs, and turn lane needs.
04:36:40 definitely be aware of your road signs on your bridges approaching