AASHTO Journal, 23 January 2015
Commercial truckers planning trips across Washington state can now use an online route-mapping software tool to know if their trucks will meet all vertical bridge clearance limits along the way.
The Washington State Department of Transportation unveiled the online tool Jan. 15, noting that it was developed in the wake of the May 2013 Skagit River accident in which an oversized truck struck critical upper bridge supports, triggering a structural collapse that sent some vehicles plunging into the river. Although all the drivers survived, a state trooper was killed managing detour traffic.
Wallace River Bridge Photo / WSDOT“This innovation offers truckers a new tool to find the safest route for their trip,” said Gov. Jay Inslee. “It applies lessons learned from the Skagit River Bridge replacement, and it will reduce the risk of collisions throughout the system.”
WSDOT said the trip planner shows which bridges on a proposed route should be avoided or approached with caution because height clearances may vary by lane. The agency will make the tool available to third-party developers who have expressed interest in creating navigation apps, under an “open data approach” that allows the private sector to use state-generated data to develop more tools to improve highway and motorist safety.
“We’ve taken advantage of existing technology to help improve safety on our roads,” said Transportation Secretary Lynn Peterson. “Sharing this data through private-public partnerships will help get this information into even more customers’ hands.”
WSDOT developed the trip planner in consultation with the Washington Trucking Association, whose members used it to conduct beta testing.
“This is a huge step in the right direction,” said Sheri Call, the association’s vice president of government of relations, noting drivers previously had to look up bridge data online or in a book and then consult their own maps.
That was not all WSDOT did, though. An agency blog article explains that it rewrote truck trip permit instructions, built a database and added a web page to help explain requirements.
“The idea behind this tool had been brainstormed here for a while,” the blog says. “When the bridge collapsed we brought it to the forefront. We still had to create a new database and a user-friendly website, but the previous ‘wish list’ planning gave us a head start.”
Now, as part of the permit application, truckers can enter their vehicle heights along with the state route or interstate numbers for where they plan to travel. A map displays the entire route, with color-coded markers for areas that are either too low or that may require using a specific lane to assure proper bridge clearance. It can also let drivers enter an exact address to zoom into a particular area.
The tool itself will undergo some further changes. The state DOT will expand its features by 2017 to include lane-by-lane height information.
The agency has also begun a statewide review of all signage for low-clearance structures, added the bridge clearance list to its road restrictions webpage and added a step-by-step guide to help drivers determine what type of permit they should request. It said all bridges with a minimum clearance of 16 feet 6 inches and lower will be re-measured in a review scheduled for completion in late 2015.
