I drive Interstate 5 from the Seattle area to Bellingham and Ferndale, WA., on a regular basis in my job as a Commercial Truck Driver. I last drove across the Skagit ( Ska -- Jet not get ) River bridge last Monday.
Fact : This is an old stretch of I - 5, and the bridge was built in 1955 when cars were bigger yet trucks were smaller. Weight limits in Washington were in the 76,000 LBs GVW range in 1955.( Maximum GVW is now 105,500 LBs in Washington, as well as Oregon and Idaho.) The bridge supported both Northbound and Southbound lanes ( 2 each way ), on 4 or maybe 5 thru Warren Truss structures with concrete deck approaches. The structure was not built with sufficient room for shoulders on either the inside or outside.
Fact : The truck driver was from Alberta, Canada, and was hauling an oversized load with a Washington State DOT - issued permit. The permit will spell out the exact route to be taken, and any clearance issues that would require changing lanes or exiting the highway for an alternate route or an 'off-ramp / on-ramp' detour around any structures with insufficient clearances for the load being carried. Note that not all oversize loads require a pilot car, and I have not heard of a pilot car being used with this load.
Fact : The bridge did NOT have any warning signs or markings indicating clearances of less than 15 feet, nor did I ever see any impact damage to the overhead or side trusses in my many trips over the bridge. The top trusses are arched, with lower clearances on the outsides edges.
Fact : I was aware of the tight clearances on the bridge, and I would time my approach so there was not another truck next to me as I crossed, as it was possible to " click mirrors " if 2 trucks crossed side by side. My regular trailer on this run is a dry box van, 53 feet long and 14 feet high.
Speculation : The truck driver may have been unfamilar with the bridge in question, and may not have read the exact route as spelled out in the permit. As well ,the permit routing may have been filled out in error. Also, the load may have been higher than first measured or calculated due to a change in equipment or blocking and bracing. I have not heard where the load originated or its routing; however if it was " Interstate 5 straight through " from Canada, then the driver would have been red - lighted at the Bow Hill scales for a check of the permit and load height. ( The Bow Hill scales is a 24 hour Port of Entry facility. ) BTW, another driver at my company cited at Bow Hill for his empty trailer being 14 feet, 1 and 1/2 inches high !!!
Fact : The Washington State Patrol is an accredited member of the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance - CVSA. Their inspections are honored in 49 states and all Canadian provences.