Delaware
Delaware Found A Genius Way To Stop Trucks From Hitting Low Bridges By Dangling Boat Fenders From Poles – The Autopian
One of the most hilarious auto-related Internet sensations is watching a big truck attempting to fit under a low bridge. It always ends poorly for the truck, usually with a large chunk munched off the top by the bridge. While it’s fun to watch, trucks crashing into low rail bridges is a serious problem, as not only do the trucks get damaged, but traffic has to halt on the road and on the rails as the accident is cleared up and the bridge is inspected. Ideally, these crashes just wouldn’t happen at all, but too many drivers keep messing up. For the past few years, the state of Delaware might have found the best solution yet by placing giant plastic balls before a bridge. Here’s how so-called “Clanker Balls” have saved both trucks and bridges from hits.
America’s roads are full of bridges that offer varying levels of clearance underneath. If you’re driving down the Interstate Highway System, you can usually expect 16 feet of clearance between the pavement and a bridge. This number reduces to about 14 feet in some urban areas. These clearances generally work because the typical tractor-trailer sits at 13 feet, six inches high.
However, the bridges found on local roads may vary. Many of the old rail bridges peppering America’s secondary roads offer far less than 14 feet of clearance because they were built before modern standards. The most infamous bridge is the Norfolk Southern–Gregson Street Overpass in Durham, North Carolina, which is also known as the “11-foot-8+8 Bridge” or the “Can Opener Bridge.” This bridge, which isn’t even the lowest that you’d find in America, attained its infamy because an office worker near the bridge pointed some cameras at the bridge for all to watch. Take a look!
When Old Infrastructure Meets Modern Traffic
These many low bridges across America cause headaches for trucks on the road because their drivers have to route around them, hopefully not causing any other problems in the process. If the drivers ignore warnings or don’t realize how tall their trucks are, they may end up clogging both road traffic and rail traffic after slamming into a bridge. These bridges sometimes need to be repaired after a hit from a truck. One crash can cause a ripple effect on a particularly busy rail line as trains have to stop.
In a perfect world, these accidents wouldn’t happen. The approaches for these bridges have yellow signs that clearly call out their low height. A trucker should also always know how tall their vehicle is. However, signs are only effective if drivers look at them. Likewise, the signs aren’t any help if the driver doesn’t realize how tall their vehicle is, as might be the case for someone driving a rental truck or someone towing a fifth-wheel camper.
Sadly, the solution isn’t as simple as you’d think. These bridges often cannot be raised easily, and roadbeds sometimes cannot be lowered easily. Raising a rail bridge would require a reconfiguration of the rail grade approaching and departing the bridge. The bridge would then be rebuilt, causing delays or full stops on the rail line for potentially months. Of course, this would cost the bridge’s owner, usually the railroad, millions of dollars.
Lowering the roadbed might be difficult due to any infrastructure that may be under the road. Of course, this would also take time and cost a town a ton of cash. Even when the infamous Can Opener Bridge was raised, it was increased only eight inches to 12 feet, four inches, so it still messes up trucks.
Convincing Big Trucks To Stop
The alternative is to develop a solution to stop trucks from slamming into the bridge in the first place. At the Can Opener Bridge, for example, a sensor placed a half-block from the bridge detects when a truck is too tall, and then triggers an LED board to flash in an attempt to warn the driver. The traffic light in the intersection before the bridge also automatically turns to red. In theory, a driver approaching the bridge has 50 seconds to react before hitting the bridge, and there are warnings all over during the approach.
Yet, drivers still ignore all of the warnings, run the red light, and let the Can Opener Bridge slice their trucks open. Since drivers still can’t get the message, the North Carolina Railroad Company has a heavy steel crash beam that munches up the trucks so the bridge doesn’t get damaged.
The state of Delaware has taken a different approach. There is an infamous train trestle in Newark, Delaware, along Casho Mill Road.
This bridge, which has been around since the late 19th century, originally offered 11 feet, one inch of clearance. In the modern era, the bridge offers only eight feet, seven inches of clearance. This bridge makes the Can Opener Bridge seem roomy in comparison. The Casho Mill Road bridge is so short that it can easily trim off the tops of camper vans and lifted SUVs, forget about any sort of commercial vehicle.
As such, this bridge, which is just one of many short bridges in Delaware, has been beaten up by tall trucks throughout its long life. Mark Luszcz, the Delaware Department of Transportation’s Deputy Director for Operations & Support, published a presentation where he even found a news report from the 1970s about the bridge eating a truck.
Between 2005 and 2022, the Delaware Department of Transportation says, 78 vehicles crashed into the bridge. Eight of those crashes happened in 2021 alone, with another six crashes occurring in 2022.
The state has been trying to curb the crashes, with most methods being unsuccessful. In 2003, the state installed a set of lights that flash and are accompanied by a sign that says “Vehicle Exceeds Tunnel Height When Flashing”. Drivers ignored both. In 2017, the sign next to the lights was updated to say “TRUCKS – Too High When Flashing – Use Turnout”. Another sign was added to the bridge height marker that said: “Your Truck WILL NOT FIT”. Again, drivers ignored the lights and signs, just like they do with the bridge in North Carolina.
Delaware’s Big Orange Balls
In 2018, CSX Transportation had become tired of trucks running into its bridge. So, it petitioned the Delaware Department of Transportation to close the under-grade crossing and then to fill the hole in so that no vehicle may ever crash into the rail bridge again. This lit a fire under Newark and Delaware state officials to try to fix the issue.
In 2019, the Delaware General Assembly proposed a solution. What if Delaware started using an over-height vehicle warning system? Such systems were already in place at the NYC Port Authority and parts of Pennsylvania and New Jersey. These systems were simple, too, utilizing a set of metal cans dangling from an overhead beam. If an over-height truck approached a low bridge, it would slam into the metal cans long before hitting the bridge, and its drivers would be alerted, alarmed, and come to a stop.
In 2021, the State of Delaware, DelDOT, and the City of Newark penned an agreement to install so-called “clankers” at the Casho Mill Road bridge.
Delaware’s interpretation was a bit different than what engineers found at the NYC Port Authority and elsewhere. Engineers had found that the metal cans of those over height vehicle vehicle warning systems weren’t very loud. They also didn’t look particularly appealing. The solution? They grabbed a bunch of Taylor Made Tuff End vinyl boat fenders.
Apparently, the sound created from hitting a bunch of boat fenders sounds more like a loud boom than a clank, but the nickname “clankers” stuck, anyway. The existing signage and lights were retained as well.
Whitman, Requardt & Associates, LLP, the engineers behind the project, added an additional sign that’s not only so huge that you basically can’t miss it, but also says in bold letters that if you don’t stop, your truck will go “kaboom”.
Add it all up, and there’s a lot of drama when a truck hits the clankers. The boat fenders make a loud boom and bounce all over the place while connected to their chains. Usually, the driver of the truck is snapped out of whatever daze or distraction they’re in and slams on the brakes. Then they see the sign warning of impending doom and decide not to press forward.
DelDOT admits that the signage and hanging boat fenders are not Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices-compliant. However, the state, the city, and residents do not care because the clankers have been super effective. In 2023, there were zero reported crashes at the bridge; the first time such has been recorded since 2005.
The state, city, and locals have also had some great fun with the clankers. People have decorated their homes with clanker replicas during the holidays, fire departments have hung clankers from their trucks during parades, and there’s even a satirical Facebook page that publishes funny posts around the clankers. Weirdly, these boat fenders hanging from a metal bar have become a bit of an in-joke in Delaware.
As NBC10 Philadelphia reports, other clankers have been installed in Milford, Newport, near Delaware Park, and on Chapel Street. DelDOT says that while the clankers have been amazingly effective, they haven’t been perfect. In more recent times, DelDOT has discovered that some trucks hit the clankers, come to a stop, but then continue forward, hitting the bridge. The state believes that the majority of these few remaining incidents may be college students driving rental moving trucks and not understanding what the clankers mean.
Still, the clankers have been so good at their jobs that officials in California, Ohio, and other states have been reaching out to DelDOT to see if they can rig up their own version of the system.
So, if you happen to drive through one of these states and see what looks like a bunch of plastic balls hanging down from a traffic light, now you know why. Those are just simple boat fenders, and they’re there to stop truckers from blowing up their load onto a train bridge. If you’re driving a truck of some kind and you hear a loud boom just before going under a bridge, it’ll probably be wise to turn around. If you don’t, you might just turn your rig into a convertible.
Topshot graphic image: WRA, LLP
Scenic drives across New Jersey reach from the coastal marshes of Cape May to the hardwood forests around the Delaware Water Gap. The routes below range from quick Sunday drives to multi-day regional tours. Along the Pine Barrens Scenic Byway, travellers wind through protected forests, wetlands, and historic villages. Old Mine Road traces 17th-century Dutch settlement routes through rugged terrain in one of the continent’s oldest continuously used roadways. Shorter routes like the Palisades Scenic Byway deliver sweeping Hudson River views with hiking access. The nine drives below prove the Garden State reputation holds up once you leave the interstate.
Delaware River Scenic Byway
Running about 34 miles from Trenton to Frenchtown, the Delaware River Scenic Byway follows the Delaware River and the Delaware and Raritan Canal, offering easy access to hiking trails and water-based recreation. The riverside towns are among New Jersey’s best for art and history. Starting in Trenton, the route follows the Delaware and Raritan Canal toward Lambertville. Trenton’s William Trent House Museum and Trenton City Museum make good starting points.
As the route approaches Lambertville, Washington Crossing State Park marks the site where George Washington’s Continental Army crossed the Delaware River on Christmas night 1776 to attack Hessian forces at Trenton (a turning point in the Revolutionary War). The park now includes hiking trails and river views. The byway continues through the historic downtowns of Lambertville and Stockton, with Bull’s Island Recreation Area offering a riverfront stop before reaching the final destination in Frenchtown.
Pine Barrens Scenic Byway
Stretching 130 miles through southern New Jersey, the Pine Barrens Scenic Byway crosses pine forests, wetlands, and rivers while connecting unique historic villages through a network of interconnected routes. The New Jersey Pine Barrens (officially the Pinelands National Reserve, established in 1978 as the first U.S. national reserve) covers 1.1 million acres with a rare acidic sandy soil ecosystem that supports pygmy pitch pine forests found almost nowhere else in North America.
Starting near Batsto Village, a preserved 18th- and 19th-century iron-making and glass-working community, the route heads toward Tuckerton through the Pinelands, crossing waterways including the Mullica River. At Tuckerton, the route approaches Little Egg Harbor, a coastal estuary known for salt marshes, boating, and birdlife, before continuing toward the Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge.
From there, the byway loops inland through Mullica and Weymouth, with opportunities for fishing and paddling on the Great Egg Harbor River. Continuing south, the byway extends toward Tuckahoe, a gateway to Cape May County coastal wetlands, with loops running toward Port Elizabeth and around Belleplain State Forest through towns like Dennis and Woodbine before reconnecting with other route segments.
Palisades Scenic Byway
The Palisades Scenic Byway offers sweeping views of the Hudson River as it winds along the Palisade Cliffs, one of New Jersey’s most striking geological formations. The cliffs formed about 200 million years ago when molten diabase magma intruded between sedimentary rock layers, later exposed when erosion stripped away the softer surrounding rock. The route covers 19 miles. Starting at Fort Lee Historic Park and Visitor Center, visitors can take in views of the George Washington Bridge and Revolutionary War exhibits before continuing onto the Palisades Interstate Parkway. Traveling north through Englewood Cliffs, there are stops at trailheads, picnic areas, and scenic overlooks.
Within Palisades Interstate Park, visitors can hike wooded trails, take in panoramic viewpoints, and explore the historic Cliffdale Manor ruins. The parkway continues north into New York State, extending the drive along the Hudson, but the New Jersey portion culminates at State Line Lookout, a high vantage point with expansive views of forested cliffs, distant Hudson Valley mountains, and the New York City skyline.
Bayshore Heritage Byway
Stretching nearly 122 miles through Salem, Cumberland, and Cape May counties, the Bayshore Heritage Byway covers the full range of New Jersey’s Delaware Bay coast. Dunes, coastal marshes, forested areas, and historic landmarks combine to make this one of the state’s most ecologically and culturally rich drives.
Start on Hawks Bridge Road in Salem County and head toward Salem City to explore its historic district (Salem has been continuously inhabited since 1675, making it one of New Jersey’s oldest towns). A network of local roads offers views of the Delaware Bay and estuary en route to Elsinboro Township. The Hancock House is the site of a 1778 Revolutionary War massacre where British troops killed over 20 sleeping Patriot militia. Continue to Bridgeton with stops at Bridgeton City Park and the Cohanzick Zoo within the park. Then continue to Mauricetown, with an optional detour to the East Point Lighthouse (built in 1849, New Jersey’s second-oldest lighthouse still in operation). The byway leads south into Cape May County, culminating at Cape May Point State Park.
Upper Freehold Historic Farmland Scenic Byway
The Upper Freehold Historic Farmland Scenic Byway covers 28 miles of farmland, historic homes, and quiet country roads. The drive begins in the historic district of Allentown Borough, following Main Street and then local roads toward the Assunpink Wildlife Management Area. From there, the byway winds through rural countryside toward Clayton Park, with optional detours to the Imlaystown Historic District or the Old Yellow Meeting House. The route continues past preserved farmland and open space before reaching the Walnford Historic District and Crosswicks Creek Park. The region is one of New Jersey’s most intact agricultural landscapes, partly due to strong state farmland preservation programs that have protected thousands of acres here since the 1980s.
Warren Heritage Scenic Byway
Running about 19 miles through mountain ranges and scenic valleys, the Warren Heritage Scenic Byway offers mountain views and opportunities to engage with local history along the way. One common route begins near Stewartsville and links local roads toward New Village. Bread Lock Park Museum along the route offers interactive exhibits on the region’s Morris Canal history (the canal operated from 1831 to 1924, carrying coal from Pennsylvania to New York). Heading toward Washington, the drive passes views of Pohatcong Mountain. The route continues through rural landscapes with views of Point Mountain, through Mansfield Township, Beattystown, and ending in Hackettstown.
Old Mine Road
Old Mine Road is often cited as one of the oldest continuously used roads in the United States, with Dutch colonial origins dating to the early 17th century when copper miners reportedly used the route to transport ore from the Pahaquarry mines to Kingston. While some of the exact 17th-century claims are disputed by historians, the road has been continuously used for at least 300 years. It runs through the Delaware Water Gap, where unpaved sections from centuries past can still be walked. Some segments close during winter due to harsh conditions; spring through autumn is the reliable season.
Starting near Columbia, the drive follows Old Mine Road with views of the Delaware River and the forested landscape of the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. At a fork, head toward the Millbrook Village Historic Site, a preserved 19th-century rural village recreated and maintained by the National Park Service. Continuing toward Flatbrookville, the road winds through the recreation area past trails, waterfalls, and scenic mountain terrain.
Millstone Valley Scenic Byway
The Millstone Valley Scenic Byway winds through central New Jersey along the Millstone River and the Delaware and Raritan Canal. This picturesque route features Revolutionary War-era landmarks and offers both scenic waterside views and educational stops.
Begin in Millstone, heading toward the historic Bridgetender’s House at Blackwell’s Mill in the East Millstone Historic District. Continue along the Millstone River toward Kingston, passing historic neighbourhoods on River Road and Rocky Hill. Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park offers hiking and water activities. From Kingston, follow the canal to Griggstown for views of the John Clyde Memorial Native Grassland Preserve and surrounding farmland. Cross the Griggstown Causeway back over the Millstone River and return to Millstone.
Western Highlands Scenic Byway
The Western Highlands Scenic Byway runs about 23 miles through Sussex County, following forest-lined roads and farmlands. The drive features hiking trails with scenic overlooks, wildlife viewing opportunities, and historic sites. Begin in Stockholm and head north toward Vernon, with views of the Hamburg Mountain Wildlife Management Area and Highland Lake. In Vernon, the byway connects to local roads looping through the highland terrain before continuing into Wawayanda State Park, where hiking access includes sections of the Appalachian Trail. The byway then extends north toward the New Jersey-New York border.
Nine New Jersey Drives, One Garden State
These nine routes cover the state’s full geographic range: Delaware Bay wetlands on the Bayshore, Pine Barrens pygmy pitch pine forests, Delaware Water Gap forests on Old Mine Road, Palisades cliff-top Hudson River views, Millstone and Warren Heritage farmland. The shared thread is that these drives reward leaving the interstate. New Jersey’s dense population masks how much forest, farmland, and preserved waterway the state actually contains.
Delaware
State Police Arrest Dover Man for Assault and Aggravated Menacing in Dover – Delaware State Police – State of Delaware
Date Posted: Saturday, April 18th, 2026
The Delaware State Police have arrested 45-year-old Joseph Chapler, from Dover, Delaware, following an assault and aggravated menacing incident that occurred Thursday night in Dover.
On April 16, 2026, at approximately 10:20 p.m., troopers responded to the parking lot of Microtel, located at 1703 East Lebanon Road in Dover for a report of an assault and aggravated menacing. When troopers arrived, they learned that a man and woman were walking on a path behind the Microtel when they were approached by an unknown male suspect. The suspect threatened the victims, pointed a gun at them, and sprayed the female victim with pepper spray before running away. The victims ran to safety and called 9-1-1. The female victim was treated by EMS but refused medical attention.
Through investigative means, detectives identified Joseph Chapler as the suspect and obtained a warrant for his arrest.
On April 17th, Chapler was arrested and taken to Troop 3, where he was charged with the crimes listed below, arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court 2, and committed to the Sussex Correctional Institution on a $94,001 cash bond.
- Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony (Felony)
- Assault 2nd Degree (Felony) – 2 counts
- Aggravated Menacing (Felony) – 2 counts
- Terroristic Threatening – 2 counts
- Criminal Trespass 3rd Degree
If you or someone you know is a victim or witness of a crime or have lost a loved one to a sudden death and need assistance, the Delaware State Police Victim Services Unit / Delaware Victim Center is available to offer you support and resources 24 hours a day through a toll-free hotline at 1-800-VICTIM-1 (1-800-842-8461). You may also email the Victim Services Unit at DSP_VictimServicesMail@delaware.gov.
Disclaimer: Any individual charged in this release is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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The Delaware Police Officer Standards and Training Commission recently announced that the Dewey Beach Police Department and Rehoboth Beach Police Department have both earned state accreditation from the Delaware Police Accreditation Commission.
As part of the rigorous process, a team of DPAC assessors ensured all accreditation standards were met by completing comprehensive, on-site inspections of each agency, reviewing their policies and procedures for compliance, and conducting interviews with department members.
“This milestone represents a significant step forward for public safety in Delaware. The initial state accreditation of these police agencies reflects a strong commitment to professionalism, accountability and excellence in law enforcement. I commend each department for their dedication to serving their communities with integrity and for upholding the highest standards,” said Joshua Bushweller, Department of Safety and Homeland Security secretary and DPAC chair.
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