Traffic alert: Truck trouble slows down The Bridge, westbound

Thanks to Mark T. for that picture of a truck that’s currently blocking the westbound lanes near the 4th Street ramp. Thanks also to others who’ve sent notes – this is Thomas’s report:

There’s a gravel truck that took the ramp from the west bound bridge to
4th ave too sharp and the rear trailer overturned.

10:43 AM UPDATE: Via Twitter, SDOT reports, “The left westbound lane … has opened. The truck has been removed and cleanup continues.” Then moments later they said they’ve closed both westbound lanes “for cleaning.” 10:56 AM UPDATE: And now the final word from SDOT: Both lanes are clear.

MargL October 7, 2009 (9:53 am)

I’ve often wondered about those dump trucks with the extra-long trailer. Why do they have that big extended hitch on them – does it make them easier to turn corners? … in most cases?

FCT October 7, 2009 (10:02 am)

MargL, I believe the reason is that it allows the dump truck to back up over the long low hitch and pick up the second bucket to dump it also. I think it is also used as a guide for the drive while backing up. I am sure someone more knowledgable will confirm/deny this.

Cheers

Robert October 7, 2009 (10:06 am)

The long tong hitch is to spread out the load for bridge weight restrictions. It’s economics – otherwise the load would require 2 trucks/2 drivers. By spreading it out, one truck/driver can do twice as much.

MargL October 7, 2009 (10:19 am)

Is that because truck weight is calculated as load per axle?

Robert October 7, 2009 (10:20 am)

That’s my understanding.

digidoll October 7, 2009 (10:57 am)

While watching one of these trucks unloading one day, I figured that the long hitch allows for the front bucket to be turned at right angles to the hitch & rear bucket and dumped without getting the dirt all over the hitch, or in the way of driving away. And like Robert says, it can all be done with one driver. Doesn’t seem like the safest setup, though – I’ve seen more than one of these rigs on I-5 in front of my office look like the one in the above photo (and seen it happen).

Jim October 7, 2009 (11:51 am)

Just confirming what others have said, sort of…

The long hitch allows the load from the truck to be dumped in the same place as the load from the trailer, you basically jack knife the trailer out of the way of the front load.

Robert October 7, 2009 (12:27 pm)

I am waiting for “Second Back on West Seattle Bridge up caused by accident when guy taking picture of first accident hit car in front of him”

:-)

Eddie October 7, 2009 (1:19 pm)

Seems like most of the drivers of these rigs (and single dump trucks, and metro buses…) are real cowboys – driving too close, too fast, too tight on corners. It’s surprising to me that we don’t see more incidents like these.

Sorry, comment time is over.