[David A]

This boggles my mind. Giant signs. Big and yellow and loud. And still the idiots think that somehow the laws of physics and geometry don't apply to them. Should these people even be allowed to operate heavy machinery?

Not sure in this case, but it seems to often be someone from out of town, who I assume is not very familiar with our city. Although, I don't quite understand how they miss or ignore the signs? Are they illiterate?

It is hard to back out, so perhaps that is what leads some to try continue on when they shouldn't. I do agree having a more of a barrier before the bridge could help some.

 

[Yeggy]

Truckers used to have special gps navigation that prevented this. I winder if google maps has become the replacement.

 

[ADob]

Not sure in this case, but it seems to often be someone from out of town, who I assume is not very familiar with our city. Although, I don't quite understand how they miss or ignore the signs? Are they illiterate?

It is hard to back out, so perhaps that is what leads some to try continue on when they shouldn't. I do agree having a more of a barrier before the bridge could help some.

Out of town, illiterate, and yellow-specific colour blind. The perfect storm...

I lived nearby and used to walk across the bridge almost daily and watched a bus driver, a random elderly passerby, and twice the police stop traffic and help the dingbat manoeuvre back out.

I honestly don't buy the "I'm not from around these here parts" because the warning signs are getting bigger and bigger and harder to miss. I think this is the same attitude that makes people turn into the oncoming LRT, turn right on a "no right on red" intersections, and blow through red lights. Yes, there are laws (including in this case the laws of physics), they just don't pertain to me because I'm special.

 

[Gronk!]

The Pulse: Feb. 12, 2026

In this edition: Housing advocates on both sides unhappy with proposed infill changes; executive committee backs 'Happy Beer Street' entertainment district proposal; and more headlines and happenings

edmonton.taproot.news

• Charges are pending against the driver of a tractor-trailer that became lodged on Edmonton’s High Level Bridge on Feb. 11. The Edmonton Police Service said there was significant damage to the bridge. No injuries were reported, and the investigation continues.

 

[AJo]

Obviously the many warnings do not work. Why not build a structure on the 109st approach that the truck driver can smash into BEFORE the bridge. That way the accident happens before the bridge is blocked and traffic can be routed around the idiot.

I agree that they need to put a over-height barrier before the bridge. However my biggest question is: Why is 109th street a 24 hr truck route when it cannot accommodate most trucks and passes through mostly residential zones?

 

[Edmcowboy11]

One of the saddest things about this last incident with the semi truck on the bridge is due to our current social culture right now, i witnessed a significant amount of individuals spewing out racially charged redirect regarding the driver of the truck. I won't repeat what was said but their work a significant amount of commentary from privileged and self entitled individuals calling out the race of the driver, etc.

 

[David A]

One of the saddest things about this last incident with the semi truck on the bridge is due to our current social culture right now, i witnessed a significant amount of individuals spewing out racially charged redirect regarding the driver of the truck. I won't repeat what was said but their work a significant amount of commentary from privileged and self entitled individuals calling out the race of the driver, etc.

That is unfortunate and probably says just about as much about the intelligence of the people stuck because of the incident as the driver.

Almost anyone who have lived here more than a minute knows these incidents happen on a regular basis and I suspect other drivers have been different races.

So if we as a city are smart, and I wonder if we are in this case, just going on and on about how stupid this or that driver is not going to fix things. We need to think about what we can do so this happens less often or not at all.

There have been some possibly good suggestions here, such as not having this as a truck route, moving or changing the overhead signage so vehicles are stopped before they get to the bridge which we should look into further.

 

[kcantor]

^
I'm pretty sure the High Level Bridge is already not a truck route.

 

[Edmcowboy11]

Hey I know, we should have sensors on the approach roads. If a truck tries to do that way, steel bollards can pop out of the ground and stop the trucks cold before they get to the bridge itself.

 

[AJo]

^
I'm pretty sure the High Level Bridge is already not a truck route.

If you open the official truck route map for Edmonton )which has not been updated since 2015) it show both High Level and Walterdale as truck routes.

https://www.edmonton.ca/sites/default/files/public-files/assets/Apr2015_CoE_Truck_Route_Front_map.pdf

 

[kcantor]

^
You could have won money with that bet -thanks for the correction!

With a 10’-6” height restriction plus the problems that come with it I have no idea why they’ve retained it!

 

[Pro.N]

High Level can handle more compact single-axle delivery trucks, but many local drivers use other routes for obvious reasons. I think most of these long-haulers (semi's) that get stuck are probably out of towners. Signage is there, but I do think we need bigger American size signs, or maybe some more ominous signage like "ENTER HERE TO RUIN YOUR TRUCKING CAREER".

 

[ADob]

Have you seen the signs?! They are not small! And getting bigger each year for obvious reasons and, sadly, to no avail.

 

[Pro.N]

Have you seen the signs?! They are not small! And getting bigger each year for obvious reasons and, sadly, to no avail.

haha yes! I saw a semi reversing out of the east entrance a couple sunday's ago, although it was using half the sidewalk to do so....ya win some, ya lose some!

 

[AJo]

^
You could have won money with that bet -thanks for the correction!

With a 10’-6” height restriction plus the problems that come with it I have no idea why they’ve retained it!

Keeping 109th street and high level as 24 hour truck routes (even if we replace the High Level) is a poor idea in my opinion. At a minimum they should be converted to restricted truck routes.
I think changing 63rd/Argyll and 75 Street to full 24 hour truck route is the better of the two options as this routes the big trucks around the core districts.