If you’ve spent any time driving through Louisville, Kentucky, you may have heard of their “Can Opener.”
But if you haven’t, just know this: it’s a low-clearance railroad bridge that’s earned its nickname by repeatedly peeling the tops off trucks that try to drive underneath. (Like a giant can opener opening a can.)
According to WLKY, the closure of a major stretch of I-65 in Louisville, truck drivers searching for alternate routes have been ending up on 3rd Street near Eastern Parkway and Winkler Avenue, where a pair of low-clearance railroad overpasses have become a trap for overheight trucks. In just the first few days of the interstate shutdown, multiple semis struck the bridges, and local officials reported at least ten truck-related crashes at the location.
Transportation officials have posted over 30 warning signs, along with additional flashing warnings aimed at getting drivers’ attention.
So why does it keep happening?
The biggest reason appears to be the I-65 closure. With interstate traffic rerouted, more truckers are looking for shortcuts around congestion. Unfortunately, some drivers are bypassing the designated truck detours and following GPS routes that lead them onto local streets that simply weren’t designed for large commercial vehicles. Officials say the overpasses cannot accommodate full-size semis, and the signed detour routes exist specifically to keep trucks away from those low-clearance bridges.
Local residents have become so familiar with the bridge strikes that many now refer to the structure simply as “the Can Opener.” Students, commuters, and nearby business owners have watched truck after truck become lodged beneath the bridge. In some cases, debris has been thrown into the roadway when trailers were ripped open.
See more:
Ya’ll know about The Louisville Can Opener?
by in IdiotsTowingThings
