Discussions

What if Manitoba Highways took the Brandon Sun picture and put it on a giant billboard just off the road about 3 or 400 feet from the underpass - do you think the least intelligent truck drivers would get the hint? What am I thinking?... probably not!

OK... so here is my solution to the problem - AGAIN. I'd love to know how to get this idea to people who can do something about it.  
 
Anyway, the solution is simple, but will cost some money. It will, however, cost much less than filling in the underpass.  
 
Install railway style lowering barricade arms just west of Pioneer road westbound and just east of the turnaround area eastbound. Make the height of the arms when lowered level with a tractor's windshield. Make sure there are lots of alternating flashing lights on the barricade arms. The arms would also have to cover both lanes so an offending truck can't go around them.  
 
The height of the lowered arm will allow normal height traffic like cars and pickups to go underneath if they happen to be in front of the truck that sets off the warning devices. Meanwhile, for the truck itself to pass this location, it would have to literally break off the guard arm on the windshield of the truck. With some pointy metal studs on the arm, this would also spider web crack the windshield of the offending truck. The driver would have no choice but to stop.  
 
Of course, the sensors that activate the barriers would have to be set far enough back so that the arms are fully lowered by the time the truck gets there and there would be additional sensors at that location so the arms would not go back up until the offending truck is gone - either down Pioneer Road or around the turn area and back to Hwy 1.  
 
Simple and effective. I just don't know why it hasn't been done yet.

Trucks hitting the Kemnay underpass is getting to be beyond funny. That said, a couple of years ago I pulled a 5th wheel over height camper trailer out of Brandon. I planned to take the elevator road. As I drove past the sensors the lights did come on but if I didn't know in advance it happened so fast I am not sure if I would have correctly processed what they were indicating.  
 
As an alternative to JR's arms. If a "sign" were to be set up with a bar hanging over the road. Car traffic may be in front of over height vehicle and could still use the underpass. If a series of caution lights were on the bar over the road were to light up in front of the offending vehicle it would be more effective than the present lighting system.  
 
Yes there is really no excuse for over height loads to hit the underpass. Many parkades use a low bar to warn of low roof. It would be more visual than the present light system and be less expensive than building a new railway bridge

JR: that is a great idea except for a couple of reasons. 1>: breaking a trucks windshield may seriously distract the driver who in turn may cause even more damage. 2: Or it could seriously injure that driver or even blind them and possibly hit other vehicles in the other lane. There are a lot of wonderful ideas put forward for this area, but then there are also consequences to installing some of the items suggested. I haven't driven truck for many years, but also believe there has to be some sensible way to prevent these collisions. I'm just waiting for someone to hit the bridge and injure or kill someone. That is about the only way anything will be done soon.  
 
Edited by mcginty, 2016-11-27 11:49:49

the only real way to stop this is to reroute 1A around Kemney and make everyone go that way. And make the railway crossing an at-grade one. I'm sure the residents of Kemney won't mind not having all of the traffic going through.

Blaming this on anyone doesn't change anything people. Simple fact of the matter is, people are going to keep doing this until the bridge is raised. I'm pretty sure there have been people who have died. And this is not a new issue.  
 
What would it take to get a new bridge in there?  
 
The current bridge is really sturdy looking, especially when you consider the number of times the trucks have smacked into it.  
 
Let's hope that this doesn't happen while a train is going over top one day. Causing a derailment. That could be ugly. Maybe it has happened?

MB highways has the plans on file to reroute 1A around Kemnay and hook-up with #10 south by #110 intersection.  
 
Maybe a couple more hits will convince them to get the ball rolling!

dark man said "MB highways has the plans on file to reroute 1A around Kemnay and hook-up with #10 south by #110 intersection.     Maybe a couple more hits will convince them to get the ball rolling! "

You are dreaming if you think any of us will see that happen in our lifetimes. Well maybe your kids will. The Government will not spend that kind of money because a couple truckers hit a low bridge. It's not a priority, especially in times like these. There are lots of plans that never amount to much. Although I think 110 will eventually hook up the West side it will be many, many years away.  
 
MB Highways doesn't care how many times it gets hit. The bridge is actually Canadian Pacific Railways. Who, other then they have to inspect it every time, could careless either.