The 11’ 8” Canopener Bridge in Raleigh

9outof10mms

9outof10mms

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We may have had a thread on this previously (it’s not my job to keep up with what’s been posted on three different forum iterations!), but I can’t get enough of this bridge so I must share...

I give you, the 11’-8” bridge affectionately known as the Canopener. It’s somewhere in Raleigh—I’m sure it’s easy to track down. If you drive a taller vehicle, it may be worth you while to know about it!

A guy has a webcam that captures all the bridge feedings (i.e. idiots who don’t see the flashing lights and text sign telling them that they’re over-height). It’s strangely satisfying to see how far an I-beam will slice into a box truck. A close second is the RV roof scrape, taking all the AC units and other crap on the roof.

The most recent contestant is a red light runner just a few days ago:


Story I heard about it is NCDOT (or City of Raleigh—whomever’s road it is) says the road is fine. The railroad company says their bridge is fine. To protect the bridge from damage, the RR installed the Canopener I-beam.

There are hours worth of videos to watch various types try to defy the laws of stupidity and squeeze under it. I do feel the pain for the guys in the rented trucks. You know that’s a walk of shame back to the rental counter when you drop it off. Just imagine being one of the pedestrians walking next to it when it happens! SHARRRRTTTTT!!!

Channel: https://m.youtube.com/user/yovo68/videos
 
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lol. The locals in the cars just drive around the clankers. Apparently they're used to this.
 
rdinatal said:
I see two instances of the Raleigh driving attitude.
  1. Red lights aren't for me...
  2. I can make it because I'm important...
Click to expand...

Ha! You be very naive. Not get out much? That is driving almost everywhere now. Let me tell you about the 221 light in West Jefferson.
 
9outof10mms said:
We may have had a thread on this previously (it’s not my job to keep up with what’s been posted on three different forum iterations!), but I can’t get enough of this bridge so I must share...

I give you, the 11’-8” bridge affectionately known as the Canopener. It’s somewhere in Raleigh—I’m sure it’s easy to track down. If you drive a taller vehicle, it may be worth you while to know about it!

A guy has a webcam that captures all the bridge feedings (i.e. idiots who don’t see the flashing lights and text sign telling them that they’re over-height). It’s strangely satisfying to see how far an I-beam will slice into a box truck. A close second is the RV roof scrape, taking all the AC units and other crap on the roof.

The most recent contestant is a red light runner just a few days ago:


Story I heard about it is NCDOT (or City of Raleigh—whomever’s road it is) says the road is fine. The railroad company says their bridge is fine. To protect the bridge from damage, the RR installed the Canopener I-beam.

There are hours worth of videos to watch various types try to defy the laws of stupidity and squeeze under it. I do feel the pain for the guys in the rented trucks. You know that’s a walk of shame back to the rental counter when you drop it off. Just imagine being one of the pedestrians walking next to it when it happens! SHARRRRTTTTT!!!

Channel: https://m.youtube.com/user/yovo68/videos
Click to expand...


You can buy pieces of “art” from the various peelings from the website.
 
That bridge has been dismantling large trucks since I was a kid. It is directly besides Bright leaf Square in Durham. I drive under it almost daily.... and yes sometimes people still ignore the flashing lights and try to get under it anyways. Why? you may ask................. cause people are stuuuuuuuupid.
 
That bridge has caused me some headaches. When I was driving big rigs I knew it was there but didn’t go in the area enough to remember the best way around. Very early one morning I might have ended up going the wrong way down a one way street trying to get around that thing. Luckily it was around 3am and the road was empty if that actually happened.
 
dman24 said:
That bridge has caused me some headaches. When I was driving big rigs I knew it was there but didn’t go in the area enough to remember the best way around. Very early one morning I might have ended up going the wrong way down a one way street trying to get around that thing. Luckily it was around 3am and the road was empty if that actually happened.
Click to expand...

That happens a lot down the track at Roxboro Rd, where the 11’ 4” bridge is. The signs tell trucks to turn right which takes you a direction where it is not obvious how to get back downtown.
 
I did a double take the first time I saw in in a box truck. Luckily I was not going that way. I had to dodge it a few times. Getting around close to downtown in a truck is a PIA.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
The Peace St bridge in Raleigh has claimed just as many as the Durham bridge....

I tend to think that this guy was either clueless or just said eff it and kept going.
D8b4Aox.jpg images.jpeg
 
About 20 years ago I knew a guy who hit this bridge. He was an idiot. Especially when it came to light that he was in that area to use his company truck from his day job to do a delivery for his moonlight gig. He wasn't employed by the day job much longer....

There is a less famous bridge in Burlington that has eaten a few truck boxes over the years. I witnessed one on the way to work one morning. Was sitting at the light 90 degrees from the action. I saw the truck coming, saw the bridge, and had just enough time to think "no way he makes that...." And he didn't.....
 
Man they should really put up a giant lighted sign that flashes “you’re not gonna make it” oh wait....
 
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