Another tractor-trailer hitting the underpass of the north Grand Island Bridge caused traffic delays along the northbound I-190 and other parts of the city on Monday.
It was at least the third tractor-trailer to strike the bridge in the past three months and after state officials announced a nearly $2 million warning system.
The tractor-trailer was heading west on the Niagara Scenic Parkway about 12:30 p.m. Monday when it failed to clear the underpass. The collision caused extensive damage to the trailer. The driver was not injured.
New York State Police and the New York State Thruway Authority personnel were on the scene for hours after the accident involving a tractor-trailer that hit the north Grand Island Bridge while operating on the Niagara Scenic Parkway.
As a result of the crash, exit 21A on the I-190 North was closed to traffic, which created a backup on the I-190 northbound lanes across the bridge. The Niagara Scenic Parkway exit from the LaSalle Expressway (westbound) was also closed.
It was at least the third time the north Grand Island Bridge has been struck by a tractor-trailer operating on the Niagara Scenic Parkway. Collisions also occurred on May 19 and June 10 following the recent completion of a $1.9 million electronic over-height detection system at the bridge.
The eastbound north Grand Island Bridge has a posted clearance of 11’-8”, and the westbound north Grand Island Bridge has a posted clearance of 12’-0”.
Each over-height vehicle detection system features receiver sensors mounted on either side of the roadway with an infrared transmitter in advance of the bridge that creates an infrared beam over the road. When an over-height vehicle breaks the beam, the receiver sends a signal and activates a warning message alert on a dynamic message sign, notifying the driver to exit immediately.
The eastbound and westbound Grand Island Bridges have now been struck by vehicles at least 31 times in the past 10 years.