Update: Truck Un-Stuck From FDR Overpass

A tractor-trailer is stuck under an overpass on the FDR at 96th Street, and it's causing all sorts of problems for drivers. The tractor trailer is apparently carrying cars and got wedged in; though workers are trying to remove it, it's expected that the southbound FDR between 79th and 96th Streets will be closed during the morning commute. My Fox NY reports, "Traffic is backed up from the RFK Bridge to 96th Street where vehicles were diverted." Drivers are being told to take the avenues or West Side Highway instead. Back in 2004, a bus sheared off its roof when on the FDR.

Update: The truck was removed at 8:40 a.m. and the southbound FDR is back open (though drivers should expect some delays). Based on this photo from My Fox NY, it looks like the car at the front of the tractor-trailer's upper level might be damaged.

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By Jen Chung in News on April 29, 2010 9:54 AM

Comments [rss]

robingee

Did they let the air out of the tires?

hecks

"I don't know, officer. The overpass...it just came out of nowhere..." SMH

gagneur

When you look at the ceiling on the FDR you can see all the previous incidents. A simple trip wire at 12' in advance of the underpas that triggers an alarm can't be that hard, right?

Politburo

Overheight sensors do exist. But where I've seen them they're not effective, because a flashing "overheight" sign doesn't tell you which vehicle is overheight, and of course each individual truck driver doesn't think it's him that's tripping the alarm, otherwise they'd already be using a different road.

Plus when you introduce a mechanism like that you have to consider false-positives (lawsuits for lost time, and people start to ignore the alarm) and false-negatives (lawsuits because the alarm didn't work, plus continued damage to structures).

There is already a very simple solution: Know the height of your vehicle and the clearances on the roads you're using. It's your job.

Eric

A grand idea!

Every MickyD's with a drive thru and every parking garage usually has some sort of thing hanging to alert drivers that their big rig is uhh.. too big!

Gotham Extremist

yeah, but its those big people with the big trucks that spend the most at mickyd's.

idea fail.

Manitoba

I drove a rent-a-truck into an overpass somewhere in Queens once. Fortunately, I was only going about 5mph, so the damage was negligible, and we were able to pull out.

I could see how a non-commercial driver could f-up with a Uhaul van or something (dumb, like I was, but still imaginable), but it amazes me that a commercial truck would make this mistake.

JenChungsBaby

The driver was letting his mullet flap in the breeze and didn't notice that the road is completely unsuitable for commercial traffic.

kc2slg

It's off, right at 9 a.m. What an idiot.

soxinthecity

How long until the TA press conference demanding that the FDR is turned into a two way bike only road?

Huffy6241

Hey Sox - how often did this happen on Storrow?

soxinthecity

Yeah, Storrow Drive, Merritt Parkway, etc. The whole concept of a truck free parkway seems to be entirely foreign to anyone outside of the Northeast.

Eric

I saw one a tractor-trailer get stuck Northbound around 59th st on the FDR last month. The police closed off the roadway north of 42nd st, traffic was a nightmare.

Damn out of towners.