I-90 Bridge
- Thread starter Porter2
- Start date
From WSDOT:
wsdot.wa.gov
Oversized load damages bridge westbound I-90 near Cle Elum; WSDOT plans next steps | WSDOT
CLE ELUM – On Oct. 21, an over-height load traveling westbound on Interstate 90 struck the Bullfrog Road overpass at Exit 80 near Cle Elum, causing significant damage. WSDOT has hired an emergency contractor, Scarsella Bros, Inc., to remove the overpass portion over westbound I-90.
Hard to believe with technology available in 2025 that this keeps happening.
Aren’t oversized loads required to have escort drivers?
That is going to be one hell of an insurance claim!
SF
Aren’t oversized loads required to have escort drivers?
That is going to be one hell of an insurance claim!
SF
I went past it going eastbound yesterday afternoon around 1:00. Westbound traffic was backed up from the overpass all the way down to Cle Elum.
I decided to come back home over Blewett and Stevens.
I decided to come back home over Blewett and Stevens.
wanderingrichard
Life of the Party
Yeah, sure is. Articles I've read say the escorts and the driver either lost communication or miscommunicated. Still doesn't relieve him of his responsibilities as the permitted driver.
wanderingrichard
Life of the Party
@VAGABOND; thought all over passes on federal highways were supposed to have an 18 foot clearance ?
Edit: Nevr mind, found this:
On federal highways, overpasses are not mandated to have an 18-foot clearance. For new construction, the minimum standard for Interstate overpasses is 16 feet, though many older bridges have lower clearances.
Minimum vertical clearance requirements
The minimum clearance on federal highways varies by location and age of the structure:
The 16-foot standard was established on the Interstate System for military purposes during the Cold War. The Department of Defense required a higher clearance to accommodate the transport of large equipment, including Minuteman missiles. The initial minimum for overpasses was 14 feet, but this was updated after a request from the military.
Important considerations for drivers
Edit: Nevr mind, found this:
On federal highways, overpasses are not mandated to have an 18-foot clearance. For new construction, the minimum standard for Interstate overpasses is 16 feet, though many older bridges have lower clearances.
Minimum vertical clearance requirements
The minimum clearance on federal highways varies by location and age of the structure:
- New rural Interstate overpasses: Must have a vertical clearance of at least 16 feet.
- New urban Interstate overpasses: One route through an urban area must have at least 16 feet of clearance, while other Interstate routes in the urban area can have a minimum of 14 feet.
- Older overpasses: Many overpasses built before the 16-foot standard was widely adopted have clearances as low as 14 feet or less. When these structures undergo reconstruction, they are typically upgraded to meet the higher standards.
- Non-Interstate federal highways: Requirements can differ, and some states may set their own minimums for non-Interstate federal routes.
The 16-foot standard was established on the Interstate System for military purposes during the Cold War. The Department of Defense required a higher clearance to accommodate the transport of large equipment, including Minuteman missiles. The initial minimum for overpasses was 14 feet, but this was updated after a request from the military.
Important considerations for drivers
- Truck height: While federal overpass standards are set at 16 feet, the maximum legal height for trucks on most U.S. highways is 13 feet, 6 inches, though some states in the West allow up to 14 feet.
- Road resurfacing: Roadway repaving over the years can reduce the clearance of a bridge. This adds a layer of new asphalt that can significantly lower the height of a bridge's opening.
- Signage: Low-clearance signs are posted for bridges with clearances that are below the legal maximum vehicle height for that roadway. If no sign is posted on an Interstate overpass, it is presumed to be at least 16 feet high.
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Good grab @wanderingrichard. Driver/Escort error. Canadian driver with a US escort. The outcome as to where the responsibility lies will be interesting. Under stand this is the third time that bridge has been hit. Believe it’s been completely taken down now and traffic E&W is free flowing.
The “standard” regarding bridge height has been changed over time due to multiple reasons but the one you quoted is the foundation for what is used today.
The transportation industry, truck, rail, air is all about maximizing profit per unit. The oil/fuel issue of the 70s was a catalyst for the commercial ground vehicles seen on today’s highways. Larger trailers, 53’ standard max, 13’6” height, tandem axle single unit unless permitted for multi-trailer or oversize. “Taller” tires, radial, which are more free rolling and fuel efficient also came into play in the 70s, also the power units have more aero packages available.
The kicker is the environment highways and bridges are built on/in today, especially in areas of steep gradient areas like Cle Elum. Rail is limited to <3% grade due to weight and length, interstate highways, e.g., I-90, I-84, etc are supposedly 6% grade or less now…..but humans build them and humans drive under them sooooo. With that being said, they’re built a helluva lot better today than they were 50 years ago. For example, traveling west in high gradient areas on an older section of I-90 you may have a bridge clearance in the travel lane of 14’4” but in the breakdown lane only 13’8”. In the 1970s an issue arose with radial tires being used on commercial vehicles as they would get “taller” at speed due to their sidewalls being more flexible and fuel efficient. Industry fixed that problem quickly. But a lot of the bridges are still there and they’ve been paved under. Engineers today are better and have a lot better tools to work with now.
Still have memories of Snowqualmie, Cabbage, and the Sisters in the 70s, especially Cabbage’ first trip, winter, snow & ice, never knew I loved Pendleton so much. May even had skid marks in my shorts.
Radial tires ability to expel heat actually gave you a smoother and safer ride as they would “stick” better in slick conditions, but sometimes you had to throw chains, not fun. One factor though, there were a lot fewer people/vehicles to deal with at the time.
On the east coast issues were more prevalent due to the infrastructure being beat up, worn out, just flat outdated. NYC area was, is still, a separate unique universe. They played the game by marking bridges 6” or more lower than they actually were hoping drivers would notice. Interstate highways were mandated to be 14’or higher but many were still 13’6” (+/-
). There were parts of the BQE (I-278) where you came up on the understructure of the Brooklyn & Manhattan bridges and it was marked 12’6” the ass-pucker factor was large, even after moving toward the left lane. The tunnels were a totally different story, fugetaboutit. Boston?…..same way. More vehicles were “Storrowed” on Rt 2 due to their foundations being old bridge architecture over the Charles River where multiple underpasses being built when the Model T was in production so they tried digging down to get clearance….nope…it’s called the Back Bay for a reason, so they flooded, and still do. A 50’ vehicle gets the front under but the rear tends to not make it as the front begins to rise. Geometry.
. Google “Storrowed”
PA was, and may still be, famous for the 2 lane short cut and $ saver off the Pennsy Pike ending at the bottom of a 8% grade with a T intersection facing town hall … or an oil refinery. Take your pick.
Glad I got out of that business in the early 80s. Between rules, regs, taxes, dereg, employees, rates, fuel costs I waved goodbye to being a professional tourist. It was like managing cats, with sharp claws & teeth.
Quit drinking went to Argentina fishing. Still love the pavement travel though as you meet some neat people.
The “standard” regarding bridge height has been changed over time due to multiple reasons but the one you quoted is the foundation for what is used today.
The transportation industry, truck, rail, air is all about maximizing profit per unit. The oil/fuel issue of the 70s was a catalyst for the commercial ground vehicles seen on today’s highways. Larger trailers, 53’ standard max, 13’6” height, tandem axle single unit unless permitted for multi-trailer or oversize. “Taller” tires, radial, which are more free rolling and fuel efficient also came into play in the 70s, also the power units have more aero packages available.
The kicker is the environment highways and bridges are built on/in today, especially in areas of steep gradient areas like Cle Elum. Rail is limited to <3% grade due to weight and length, interstate highways, e.g., I-90, I-84, etc are supposedly 6% grade or less now…..but humans build them and humans drive under them sooooo. With that being said, they’re built a helluva lot better today than they were 50 years ago. For example, traveling west in high gradient areas on an older section of I-90 you may have a bridge clearance in the travel lane of 14’4” but in the breakdown lane only 13’8”. In the 1970s an issue arose with radial tires being used on commercial vehicles as they would get “taller” at speed due to their sidewalls being more flexible and fuel efficient. Industry fixed that problem quickly. But a lot of the bridges are still there and they’ve been paved under. Engineers today are better and have a lot better tools to work with now.
Still have memories of Snowqualmie, Cabbage, and the Sisters in the 70s, especially Cabbage’ first trip, winter, snow & ice, never knew I loved Pendleton so much. May even had skid marks in my shorts.
Radial tires ability to expel heat actually gave you a smoother and safer ride as they would “stick” better in slick conditions, but sometimes you had to throw chains, not fun. One factor though, there were a lot fewer people/vehicles to deal with at the time.
On the east coast issues were more prevalent due to the infrastructure being beat up, worn out, just flat outdated. NYC area was, is still, a separate unique universe. They played the game by marking bridges 6” or more lower than they actually were hoping drivers would notice. Interstate highways were mandated to be 14’or higher but many were still 13’6” (+/-
). There were parts of the BQE (I-278) where you came up on the understructure of the Brooklyn & Manhattan bridges and it was marked 12’6” the ass-pucker factor was large, even after moving toward the left lane. The tunnels were a totally different story, fugetaboutit. Boston?…..same way. More vehicles were “Storrowed” on Rt 2 due to their foundations being old bridge architecture over the Charles River where multiple underpasses being built when the Model T was in production so they tried digging down to get clearance….nope…it’s called the Back Bay for a reason, so they flooded, and still do. A 50’ vehicle gets the front under but the rear tends to not make it as the front begins to rise. Geometry.. Google “Storrowed”PA was, and may still be, famous for the 2 lane short cut and $ saver off the Pennsy Pike ending at the bottom of a 8% grade with a T intersection facing town hall … or an oil refinery. Take your pick.
Glad I got out of that business in the early 80s. Between rules, regs, taxes, dereg, employees, rates, fuel costs I waved goodbye to being a professional tourist. It was like managing cats, with sharp claws & teeth.
Quit drinking went to Argentina fishing. Still love the pavement travel though as you meet some neat people.
Still possible to get up to the Cle Elum the short way
