Nowra Bridge Over height warning System
Leo Giusti
I just got a reply from RMS to my enquiry about why the current system need replacing. It basically says that the current system directs trucks to stop and that a police escort is required over the northbound bridge and the new system will direct trucks down the centre line. Here is the bulk of the email below:
The current over height vehicle warning sign is a fixed message system based on old technology that identifies vehicles over 4.3 metres high and signals the motorists to “stop”. There is a risk that if a vehicle is higher than 4.3 metres and is trying to cross the southbound Nowra Bridge in the travel lanes it could impact the corner bracing in the bridge trusses.
Vehicles over 4.3 metres high that want to travel south over the Shoalhaven River were to be escorted by Police on the northbound bridge, therefore impacting northbound motorists.
Recently there has been increased demand from the freight industry for vehicles over 4.3 metres in height to travel south across the Shoalhaven River. This was having a negative impact on both traffic efficiency and on Police resources needed to provide this service. Consultation was undertaken with the freight industry and Police on this matter.
A solution has now been gazetted for approval which allows vehicles between 4.3 and 4.6 metres high to drive on the centre line down the centre of the southbound bridge to avoid the corner bracing in the bridge trusses, without the need for Police escort.
To allow this to occur effectively, the technology for over height vehicle signage on the southbound bridge over the Shoalhaven River requires a more flexible detection and messaging system to communicate to heavy vehicle drivers. The installation of the new warning system, including signage is expected to be carried out later in 2013.
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mubd1234
They should put a modified version of this on the bridge. A few chevrons or something projected onto the water screen to guide the truck into the centre lane might work quite nicely ;)
But seriously, did they really need to stop those vehicles crossing the bridge when the Tom Ugly's Bridge is the same sort of structure where trucks could just straddle both lanes to avoid the low corners?
