Trucks still don't
get it
Crashes into Mitchell Blvd. overpass continue

July 26, 2004 -- Semi-trucks continue to plow into the I-94 Mitchell Blvd. overpass despite the installation two years ago of an electronic warning system, according to the State Department of Transportation.

"It has been hit four times so far this year," DOT spokeswoman Donna Brown said.

The tops of the unfortunate trucks generally get crumpled and then stuck under the overpass, which is not quite high enough for a semi's safe passage underneath.

Neat trick. The signs say the overpass southbound on Mitchell Blvd. is 4 inches lower than it is northbound.

DOT in 2002 installed a $110,000 electronic warning system with lights that flash warnings whenever a dangerously tall truck approaches.

The system may have helped cut down on the number of crashes, even if it is unable to force truck drivers to pay attention to what they are doing.

Brown said DOT does not record the number of annual hits, "but if we had to guess, at a minimum we are looking at about six times a year" before the signs were installed.

The recent work on the overpass is not related to the crashes, Brown said.

"It is general maintenance and not due to a bridge hit. We generally do not see a lot of damage to this bridge when we do get a hit because the speeds are relatively low," she said.

The crashes, however, do often cause major traffic problems because the Sheriff's Department has to close the ramp while the truck backs up the ramp and back onto the freeway, she said.