11Foot8 bridge
Photograph ©2018 by Brian Cohen.

Visiting the Bridge Which Damages Trucks Known as 11Foot8

You have probably come across one of the now infamous videos of a bridge which trucks, buses, recreational vehicles and other tall conveyances have either their tops peeled like a can in a can opener — or have much of the vehicle annihilated altogether.

Visiting the Bridge Which Damages Trucks Known as 11Foot8

11Foot8 bridge
Photograph ©2018 by Brian Cohen.

That is because this bridge is known as the notorious 11Foot8, which is named after the height of its span being eleven feet and eight inches of clearance suspended off of the surface of the street…

11Foot8 bridge
Photograph ©2018 by Brian Cohen.

…and despite its legendary reputation, some drivers decide to ignore the plethora of warning signs which adorn the area and attempt to maneuver their massive vehicles through the gauntlet.

11Foot8 bridge
Photograph ©2018 by Brian Cohen.

Many vehicles have crashed into a permanent low clearance bar — battering it in the process — above the street prior to vehicles approaching the bridge. This reinforced bar of solid steel serves two purposes: to warn drivers of the limited height clearance under the trestle — and to protect the bridge itself.

11Foot8 bridge
Photograph ©2018 by Brian Cohen.

Pedestrians walk under the bridge, which was built approximately 100 years ago. At the time when the trestle was built, no standards for minimum clearance existed.

11Foot8 bridge
Photograph ©2018 by Brian Cohen.

The bridge crosses South Gregson Street between West Peabody Street and West Pettigrew Street in Durham, North Carolina. South Gregson Street is a one-way street in the southbound direction.

11Foot8 bridge
Photograph ©2018 by Brian Cohen.

Look closely on one of the buildings at the corner across West Peabody Street from the bridge and you will see one of at least two video cameras which are focused on the bridge at all times.

11Foot8 bridge
Photograph ©2018 by Brian Cohen.

As a result of the numerous videos of vehicle incidents, the bridge has its own dedicated Internet web site.

This is one of the 143 videos — at the time this article was written — of incidents which have been recorded by Jürgen Henn since April of 2008. Copyright © Jürgen Henn — 11foot8.com.

This is a video compilation of numerous incidents at this bridge as compiled by Willem Hebbe — and this video was posted on Tuesday, October 11, 2016. Since then, at least 34 additional incidents were recorded on video. Enjoy all nine minutes and 49 seconds of non-stop mayhem — all of which could have been easily avoided — and do not miss the last video of this compilation, which will leave you shaking your head in disbelief. Copyright © Jürgen Henn — 11foot8.com.

11Foot8 bridge
Photograph ©2018 by Brian Cohen.

The road cannot be lowered and the trestle cannot be raised for a variety of reasons — primarily due to the exorbitant cost for each potential solution — as explained in the frequently asked questions of the aforementioned Internet web site.

11Foot8 bridge
Photograph ©2018 by Brian Cohen.

I wanted to see what the view looked like above the bridge — so I ventured southeast of it…

11Foot8 bridge
Photograph ©2018 by Brian Cohen.

…and I noticed the side view of the reinforced low clearance bar, which is on the left side of the photograph. So far, no one vehicle — truck or otherwise — has defeated it; although the steel beam had already been replaced once since it was installed.

11Foot8 bridge railroad tracks
Photograph ©2018 by Brian Cohen.

The bridge supports a railroad track, which is owned by the North Carolina Railroad Company. The traffic light is the corner of South Gregson Street between West Peabody Street as viewed towards the northwest from the at-grade railroad crossing on South Duke Street.

11Foot8 bridge railroad crossing
Photograph ©2018 by Brian Cohen.

This is the railroad crossing sign on South Duke Street.

11Foot8 bridge railroad tracks
Photograph ©2018 by Brian Cohen.

Viewing the railroad track in the other direction — towards the southeast and away from 11Foot8 — is the Durham railroad station.

11Foot8 bridge railroad tracks
Photograph ©2018 by Brian Cohen.

…and I just felt like taking some photographs of the railroad track itself — just because. Railly. To keep on track with my ties to travel.

11Foot8 bridge railroad tracks
Photograph ©2018 by Brian Cohen.

Summary

11Foot8 bridge
Photograph ©2018 by Brian Cohen.

I did not witness any incidents during my brief visit to this curious phenomenon; but on average, a truck, bus, or recreational vehicle becomes “visibly damaged” at the trestle approximately once per month.

That statistic simply amazes me.

This bridge has a sibling in Westwood, Massachusetts. One incident back in the summer of 2014 involves a truck carrying approximately $100,000.00 worth of live lobsters which crashed into the bridge and erupted into a blazing fire.

I do not understand exactly why any of these preventable incidents happen.

The trestle known as 11Foot8 is located across South Gregson Street between West Peabody Street and West Pettigrew Street in Durham, North Carolina. To get to it by motor vehicle, use exit 176 from the northbound lanes of Interstate 85 — or exit 176A from the southbound lanes of Interstate 85 — and travel 1.5 miles south on South Gregson Street, which becomes a one-way street after passing Northgate Mall. You will then drive down a quiet residential area lined with trees prior to arriving at the trestle.

No admission fee is charged; but plenty of restaurants, shopping, entertainment and lodging options abound within a radius of a few miles.

All photographs ©2018 by Brian Cohen.

  1. Nice. I love the videos of this bridge. As a safety professional I use the videos all the time. You should check out the 11foot8’s little brother 10foot6 in Mass. 🙂

    1. You are fast, DaninMCI.

      Did you see the video of the lobster truck on fire which I included in the article in Westwood, Massachusetts? I believe that is the bridge to which you are referring.

      1. Your right that is the Mass bridge. I think what makes it worse isn’t the height difference but that it narrows down as well. If you watch a bunch of the videos from that webcam, many vehicles going through also hit the curbs that stick out. It’s like driving through a funnel. One of the most common vehicle claims for fleets of box trucks and especially small bus or vans is hitting overhead awnings like at gas stations, nursing homes, etc. People just don’t think about the clearance. Most truck GPS and some RV specific GPS units have bridges like these in their system to assist truckers from going through those areas with low bridge clearance.

  2. I really shouldn’t laugh at the video but it’s just so funny. Kind of a tribute to human stupidity.

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