It was an ordinary day. Opened my computer and up popped a photograph of a huge truck stuck in one of Lancaster County's historic covered bridges. How can anyone with any common sense drive a Semi-Tractor Trailer truck over a small enclosed wooden bridge? The online story read: WEST EARL TOWNSHIP, Pa. - A covered bridge dating back to the 1800s in Lancaster County will be closed until further notice after a tractor-trailer ran into it on Monday.
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| Semi-tractor trailer truck stuck in historical wooden bridge |
The refrigerated box truck struck the Bitzer's Mill Covered Bridge, which spans the Conestoga Creek in West Earl Township, on Monday morning. Not only is the truck too tall for the bridge, but it is said to be two tons over the weight limit posted on the bridge. Hopefully the driver will face significant fines...and made to pay for all repair costs, which could be plenty! The bridge is located near the intersection of Cider Mill Road and Covered Bridge Road. The Farmersville Fire Company shared photos with WGAL-TV of the truck stuck inside the bridge. Tuesday morning, PennDOT released a statement saying they are developing a repair plan and the bridge would remain closed for now. A detour is in place using Farmersville Road, Route 322 and Pleasant Valley Road. The covered bridge was built in 1846 and is thought to be the oldest covered bridge in Lancaster County that is still in use. That is until now!! This isn't the first time that semi-drivers have done the same thing in Lancaster. I have no idea what they are thinking when they approach a narrow, wooden bridge with their monstrous trucks. These historic bridges can't be replaced and are a part of the history of Lancaster County. All it takes is a little common sense to know that what you are driving will not fit into the single lane wooden bridge with a roof on it. Here's hoping that the historical bridge will be able to be repaired to the point where it can be crossed once again by normal traffic. And...perhaps the semi-driver's insurance should pay to have the bridge repaired! The picture that follows was from WGAL-TV the day after the bridge closed. It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.
Similar incident occurred a couple of weeks ago here in Illinois where there are many fewer covered bridges. "[H]ow to prevent further damage to the bridge[?] One possible option would be to erect bars that stand just under 12 feet — the same height as the bridge’s clearance — over the roadway approaching both sides of the bridge. That way, if truck drivers clip the overhead bar, they’ll know not to continue through the bridge." https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-red-covered-bridge-damaged-princeton-20231128-o52si3osjndzfhzgim5p55ul34-story.html
ReplyDeleteWow! That's a great idea. Wonder why those in charge in the Lancaster area haven't thought of that in the past. Hopefully they will see it here and give it a try! Many thanks for the advice. Larry
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