One-inch too-tall RM lorry gets stuck at disused bridge

[TrueBlueTerrier]

One-inch too-tall Royal Mail lorry gets stuck at disused railway bridge http://www.thisisdevon.co.uk/inch-tall- ... z2llXeu0Ww" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


A ONE-inch difference saw a Royal Mail lorry stopped in its tracks at a disused railway bridge on one of Plymouth’s busiest roads.

Police were called to the bridge in Embankment Road, close to the new Plymstock turn off, just before 8.50pm last night after the lorry got into difficulties.

The 16ft high bridge – marked with a traffic sign – was struck by the 16ft 1ins high Royal Mail heavy goods lorry as it headed towards the Plymstock depot having travelled from South Wales.

Police assisted by blocking both the in-bound and out-bound lanes, allowing the driver to slowly reverse the lorry, cross the central reservation and do a U-turn.

The road was re-opened shortly after 9pm.

A police spokesman said: “Police assisted the driver in safely doing the U-turn. The truck then left the area. With large vehicles, one inch can make all the difference.”

A spokeswoman for Royal Mail said the driver could see the lorry would be too big to fit under the bridge.

She said he stopped before the bridge and called the police to ask for assistance so he could turn around.

The police then directed him onwards along a different route.

[Lounge Lizard]

And the driver didn't have the sense to deflate the tyres slightly ?

[cloherty1976]

Obviously that is not the lorry because it only has a 14 ft trailer and we don't have any 16ft 1 inch trailers as they are 16ft 2 inch which might make even more of a difference on the 16ft bridge. Good thing he was alert and never hit the bridge.

[Lounge Lizard]

Obviously that is not the lorry because it only has a 14 ft trailer and we don't have any 16ft 1 inch trailers as they are 16ft 2 inch which might make even more of a difference on the 16ft bridge. Good thing he was alert and never hit the bridge.

I understand 16ft 6in is the minimum height of all motorway bridges and unmarked bridges, so four inches isn't much of an allowance.