It isn't really that terrible an idea for the owner of the bridge to allow vehicles across that will only fit in the center lanes.
They just need to make sure that the drivers understand that the height limit is lower in the outer lanes.
They just need to make sure that the drivers understand that the height limit is lower in the outer lanes.
NYC takes the cake for inaccurate bridge height signs, though. Some bridges have signs indicating 12'9" or lower clearance when standard 13'6" trucks can clear them easily. It's a complete mystery why they can't mark them correctly. It's been this way for decades (literally).
About an hour and a half later, we established that the road had been recently re-paved and no one was exactly sure what the height was. Backing up to the nearest intersection was not an option because there were none close by and turning the tractor-trailer around was impossible. The cops were cool about it and suggested that I creep forward very slowly and see if I'd fit. I was able to do this and stop just as the trailer reached the bridge. I got out of the cab and climbed up behind the tractor to have a peek and had about an inch to spare. I went for it, very slowly, and made it under. No fun but I did get a cool photo as a memento: http://i.imgur.com/64uYu2z.jpg
I took a different route on the way back of course!
make sure that the drivers understand
"Overheight must turn" means to virtually all "IF you are Overheight you must turn". Obviously that driver doesn't think he is overheight.
Change it to "Warning: Overheight truck detected in this lane" (with proper lights/arrows pointing to lane). And blink red as well.
The truck driver doesn't realize the sign is only on when he is there, he never sees it when it's off, he has no idea it's illuminated specially for him.
This is government saying "We did something", while doing nothing.
And this sign is above even the traffic lights. Even someone glancing at the colors would not see this.
What they should do is lower the sign to the height of the bridge - so people hit the sign (or something dangling from it).
But that would require government admitting that people hitting the bridge is their fault, and not stupid drivers.
http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/data/tools/bridgeclearance/
Someone driving an oversize load can reasonably be expected to check their route for clearance. It's not the same situation as some guy trying to find Taco Bell in his RV.