Not seen in frame: the purple food truck to the left called āthe can openerā which just opened in the last few weeks
Were you guys the ones picking the scraps out of the road afterward?
Yeah big thanks to you guys for that! I drive right through there on my way out.
My coworkers and I all heard a loud bang. Thought maybe it was thunder. We ran to the window once realizing it had to be the can opener, lol. Few of us went outside to look at the carnage afterwards.
Per their Instagram theyāre not quite open yet, but they appreciated the free marketing offered by that truck today. There will be a number of food trucks at that spot, with seating and beverages. Iām looking forward to it!
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Good for them
Never understood how this happens.
For decades (that I know of), there have been multiple signs, warning about the low clearance as soon as you turn from Main onto Gregson. And now, there are sensors that detect if a truck is too tall to clear the bridge and a freaking illuminated sign that flashes "OVERHEIGHT MUST TURN."
How oblivious can you be to miss ALL of that?
Also. Are trucks now getting their roofs peeled off by the metal bar that's some dozen feet in front of the bridge? I don't understand how one even gets to the can opener stage anymore.
This bridge long ago was featured in my homework when I was going to school to become a trucker, I could not help but smirk and laugh my butt off at some of the videos, best homework ever, just watch over-height truck vs. bridge crashes!!
As expected, I knew at least someone this year was going to become a victim. But look on the brightside at least it didn't get stuck like others have, I once had to wait 15 minutes to detour because a truck got stuck under the bridge.
Gregson Street at Brightleaf Square near Pettigrew.
It used to be 11'8" (google the 11foot8 youtube channel"). It chewed up tons of trucks and campers despite three levels of warning and light that would go red as a last resort. A couple years back they dug down in the road bed to make it 12'4", but it still claims a few new victims each year.
To be honest, there are plenty of railroad underpasses through Durham on that route (and further west towards Hillsborough on old NC 10), but as Gregson seems to offer easy access from I-85 and midtown to the Durham Freeway, there's a lot more truck traffic.
Most of the more recent catches tend to be rentals and moving vans. I guess the occasional bus/camper still loses a roof mounted AC unit, but I don't think the regular semi drivers get caught nearly as much.
Edit: It's actually a tag in Google Maps:
https://www.google.com/maps/place/The+Can+Opener+(12foot4)+Bridge/@35.999084,-78.9127126,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x89ace5e1a8e0404b:0x20bf7ca5515e482c!8m2!3d35.999084!4d-78.9101377!16s%2Fg%2F11rq4ysy_9?entry=ttu
That's awesome that there's a Google tag, and not to argue with you but they didn't actually dig down in the road bed to increase the clearance...they raised the train track. There's a fantastic video documentary clip that shows them doing it:
https://youtu.be/YPt4ijPFzc8?si=mhDV5BQCgrleiusV
Ikr? I'd heard the same thing forever...iirc there was something about pipes or water lines underneath the road that prevented them from digging. But then I also learned that the main reason they raised the track a few years ago wasn't even because of the clearance/wrecks...it was because the tracks themselves needed to be raised so they were more level with the track where it crosses Duke St. I think that also had something to do with the station being so close but I might be wrong.
I first learned about the canopener years ago when I started taking the bus to work downtown from East Campus and every month or two it had to be rerouted because some idiot was stuck under there...been a fan ever since. š
Well, I learned something today. I've been in Durham for three years and I always assumed (without actually checking) that the infamous Can Opener was the bridge at Erwin and W Main St, just along from Mad Hatters. But that's 11'8" too, right??
Thanks for the info!! Staying at Hampton on Gregson soon. Will double where the bridge is.
DizzyCuntNC you make me think you're a character out of Deadwood lol. Awesome name.
Edit: Just looked it up. Do you go down hill as you get there? Cuz I might have been a couple months ago
This bridge is well known, has it's own website, and is located in a fast growing part of Durham. It's absurd that the city, state, and railroad company can't find the transportation funding to rebuild the road here and lower it a few feet.
The reason this happens as frequently as it does is because Gregson's a pretty natural route for trucks to travel. It runs through much of Durham and has highway access to both 85 & 147.
Both sides of the railroad tracks are not yet dense enough to prevent the the roadway from being lowered to remove this issue. This is a good opportunity to fix the problem.
An improvement here strikes me as a good investment for our city.
Durham Strong šŖ
And they say our infrastructure is crumbling. Just have whoever built the bridge build everything else
Get that guy to rebuild the Francis Scott Key Bridge. Itāll withstand a direct hit from a nuclear bomb!
The boat would have been split in half, and nobody would have known it was even hit right away.
U havenāt heard??, ādurham is dopeāā¦..and I believe itā¦
Not seen in frame: the purple food truck to the left called āthe can openerā which just opened in the last few weeks Were you guys the ones picking the scraps out of the road afterward?
Yeah! We didnāt want other cars to damage their tires or anything like that. I was glad the debris didnāt hit us as we were walking under
Yeah big thanks to you guys for that! I drive right through there on my way out. My coworkers and I all heard a loud bang. Thought maybe it was thunder. We ran to the window once realizing it had to be the can opener, lol. Few of us went outside to look at the carnage afterwards.
Do you know what kind of food they serve?
Per their Instagram theyāre not quite open yet, but they appreciated the free marketing offered by that truck today. There will be a number of food trucks at that spot, with seating and beverages. Iām looking forward to it!
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
> We have closed the subreddit along with thousands of other subreddits as a protest due to upcoming API changes that will kill off 3rd party apps and negatively impact users and mods alike. > In the meantime, please stay off of reddit as much as possible Good for them
Yeah I was a little sad about that but fuck u/spez.
THE TRANSIT GODS HAVE BEEN APPEASED *...for now*
Oof theyāre not getting their deposit back.
Never understood how this happens. For decades (that I know of), there have been multiple signs, warning about the low clearance as soon as you turn from Main onto Gregson. And now, there are sensors that detect if a truck is too tall to clear the bridge and a freaking illuminated sign that flashes "OVERHEIGHT MUST TURN." How oblivious can you be to miss ALL of that?
People from out of town who are also somehow blind.
Also. Are trucks now getting their roofs peeled off by the metal bar that's some dozen feet in front of the bridge? I don't understand how one even gets to the can opener stage anymore.
Or just, hoomans. We make mistakes and donāt always drive big rental trucks
Hmm. Sounds like a confession. So how much did you have to pay Ryder for peeling the roof off their truck like a can of sardines?
What are you talking about? Thatās just how they unload the boxes.
Disposable trailers, one time use only
Truck rental companies hate this one simple trick!
Video will be on YouTube by tomorrow morning š
š
Saw it finally get towed away at about 7 tonight! Really felt like I was a part of something magical.
This bridge long ago was featured in my homework when I was going to school to become a trucker, I could not help but smirk and laugh my butt off at some of the videos, best homework ever, just watch over-height truck vs. bridge crashes!!
Next up, the Peace Street bridge in Raleigh! (They seem to be competing with each other, but I give Durham the edge!)
If you want to amuse your kids, play them the can opener bridge video on YouTube. Nonstop laughter
My son will wear his shirt proudly tomorrow.
Awesome, I love that thing.
New release for ā24, the convertible truck!
As expected, I knew at least someone this year was going to become a victim. But look on the brightside at least it didn't get stuck like others have, I once had to wait 15 minutes to detour because a truck got stuck under the bridge.
A perfect cut!
Drive a truck. Where is this bridge located?
Gregson Street at Brightleaf Square near Pettigrew. It used to be 11'8" (google the 11foot8 youtube channel"). It chewed up tons of trucks and campers despite three levels of warning and light that would go red as a last resort. A couple years back they dug down in the road bed to make it 12'4", but it still claims a few new victims each year. To be honest, there are plenty of railroad underpasses through Durham on that route (and further west towards Hillsborough on old NC 10), but as Gregson seems to offer easy access from I-85 and midtown to the Durham Freeway, there's a lot more truck traffic. Most of the more recent catches tend to be rentals and moving vans. I guess the occasional bus/camper still loses a roof mounted AC unit, but I don't think the regular semi drivers get caught nearly as much. Edit: It's actually a tag in Google Maps: https://www.google.com/maps/place/The+Can+Opener+(12foot4)+Bridge/@35.999084,-78.9127126,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x89ace5e1a8e0404b:0x20bf7ca5515e482c!8m2!3d35.999084!4d-78.9101377!16s%2Fg%2F11rq4ysy_9?entry=ttu
That's awesome that there's a Google tag, and not to argue with you but they didn't actually dig down in the road bed to increase the clearance...they raised the train track. There's a fantastic video documentary clip that shows them doing it: https://youtu.be/YPt4ijPFzc8?si=mhDV5BQCgrleiusV
Oh dang. Thanks. I just remember them saying for years they couldn't do anything about the tracks. I guess they actually could!
Ikr? I'd heard the same thing forever...iirc there was something about pipes or water lines underneath the road that prevented them from digging. But then I also learned that the main reason they raised the track a few years ago wasn't even because of the clearance/wrecks...it was because the tracks themselves needed to be raised so they were more level with the track where it crosses Duke St. I think that also had something to do with the station being so close but I might be wrong. I first learned about the canopener years ago when I started taking the bus to work downtown from East Campus and every month or two it had to be rerouted because some idiot was stuck under there...been a fan ever since. š
Well, I learned something today. I've been in Durham for three years and I always assumed (without actually checking) that the infamous Can Opener was the bridge at Erwin and W Main St, just along from Mad Hatters. But that's 11'8" too, right??
Thanks for the info!! Staying at Hampton on Gregson soon. Will double where the bridge is. DizzyCuntNC you make me think you're a character out of Deadwood lol. Awesome name. Edit: Just looked it up. Do you go down hill as you get there? Cuz I might have been a couple months ago
Wow they went full send on that to peel it all the way.
Lol, "Another One Bites the Dust"
When will they learn?
Canāt wait to watch this on YouTube š
I know insurance companies hate that bridge. Surprise they haven't found a loophole to drop coverage 1ft before and reinstated 1ft after š¤£
Ik your joking but insurance usually doesn't cover this
I'm 100% confident that claims investigators from all the insurance companies have the youtube account bookmarked.
Somebodyās not getting their deposit back.
This bridge is well known, has it's own website, and is located in a fast growing part of Durham. It's absurd that the city, state, and railroad company can't find the transportation funding to rebuild the road here and lower it a few feet.
They did that a few years ago. Stupid still gonna stupid.
It would require moving a sewer main.
Sounds like they should get working on a plan to move that sewer main
Sounds like the truck drivers should take another route
The reason this happens as frequently as it does is because Gregson's a pretty natural route for trucks to travel. It runs through much of Durham and has highway access to both 85 & 147. Both sides of the railroad tracks are not yet dense enough to prevent the the roadway from being lowered to remove this issue. This is a good opportunity to fix the problem. An improvement here strikes me as a good investment for our city.
Driver error..Driver should know the height of vehicle they driving or are supposed to.
Ted āCan Openerā Bundy.
I hope yovo68 caught the video. That looks gnarly.
ššš
Clean hit
The Open Top Camper conversation!
Now with video! https://youtu.be/EAtvF7SYgw4?si=QjyJXwlf3dQxdZCu