Another truck hits Augusta’s infamous Olive Road bridge

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The infamously low Olive Street bridge has been struck once more.

This time, it occurred round 11:49 a.m. Friday.

Pictures confirmed a U-Haul field truck wedged underneath the bridge.

That’s the typical-size truck that normally hits.

It’s truly occurred numerous instances earlier than, together with simply earlier than Christmas.

After that occurred, we requested John Ussery, Augusta’s assistant director of visitors engineering, whether or not there’s a option to preserve this from taking place.

There’s a beam is ready in entrance of the span on prime to guard the bridge construction on either side.

It’s painted crimson to get drivers’ consideration.

State regulation requires no less than two ranges of warning earlier than automobiles attain the bridge.

WATCH: WHY IS OLIVE ROAD BRIDGE A CRASH MAGNET?

The beam is partnered with greater than 25 warning units on Olive Street.

“There’s not a complete lot extra we will do to warn the general public there’s a low-hanging bridge,” Ussery mentioned.

What in regards to the different choices?

Elevating the bridge would price hundreds of thousands of {dollars}.

“It’s the railroad’s bridge, so it might be their duty to do this,” Ussery mentioned, “and we’ve talked to them previously, and so they must realign tracks for miles in each course, which is a really costly factor to do.”

Closing the street that goes underneath the bridge would imply emergency automobiles having a slower response time, plus extra building to close by intersections.

And decreasing the street would convey issues, too: There’s a creek proper behind the bridge, so the street would all the time be flooded.

“It’s a really tough space to attempt to repair,” Ussery mentioned. “Even in case you assume it’s possible you’ll make it, simply take the time to go round and be protected and preserve everybody else protected.”

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