Motorway Bridges

Dusty Bin | 09:33 Thu 21st Feb 2008 | How it Works

13 Answers

Many times when travelling up and down motorways I find myself behind very tall lorries.

When approaching bridges, I often fear that the lorry in front of me is too tall to clear underneath the bridge, but yet they always do.

On roads other than motorways there are advance warning signs advising lorry drivers of the height restriction of a bridge they may be approaching, and this height restriction is again displayed at the apex of the arch of the bridge itself.

However, on the motorways no warning signs are displayed. How can lorry drivers be confident that their vehicle will clear the bridges on our motorways?

Considering changing LPG Boilers,can anybody guide me?

Turntable

Answers

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heathfield

The UK standard for bridge clearance is 16ft 6ins (5.03m). Any bridge with less clearance than this must have a warning sign showing the safe clearance.

The maximum vehicle/load height is recommended to be 16ft 3ins (4.93m), though there's no actual law to restrict maximum height.

andy-hughes

Think about how many times an accident has been reported on a motorway about a lorry failing to clear a bridge - I suspect that will be never.

It's an interesting phobia, hope you are able to control it.

Panic Button

Mind you, look up at the bridges. You will often see scrape marks on the underside!

pug100

Hi,
In response to Andy, I have witnessed a large tipper truck stuck under a bridge on the M62. Looked like the driver hadn't lowered the back of the lorry fully before driving off. Made a very big hole in the parapet of the bridge.

-- answer removed --

sleepyj

i know some one that hit a bridge in his lorry twit he is ...

Dusty Bin

Question Author

Thanks for your answers.

Can I ask, Heathfield, how you know the information you posted?

Thanks :-)

dundurn

try this website - lots of data on the problem, proposed solutions and contains the definition of what constitutes a "low bridge"

www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roads/tss/research/educevehiclesstrikin...hefrequency4172?version=1

beso

I once saw an excellent security video on U-tube taken upstairs from the back of a double decker bus as it passed under a too low bridge. Pity it didn't have sound.

Maybe someone could find it and post the link here.

Dusty Bin

Question Author

dundurn,

Thanks but the link didn't work for me :-(