The North Carolina Bridge That Just Might Be The Most Dangerous Bridge In The State

At 11 foot 8, this one notorious bridge has claimed more motor vehicle lives – or the tops of the vehicles, anyway – than any other bridge in North Carolina. The bridge is so notorious that it’s been nicknamed “the can opener.”

Youtube / Yovo068

It seems no truck can escape the wrath of the can opener. Since 2008, the bridge has been the site of 101 wrecks for trucks and larger vehicles. 14 feet is the bridge height recommended by the Federal Highway Administration, which makes sense because the maximum height for semi trailers is 13 feet, 6 inches.

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Youtube / Autoblog

The bridge is owned by a railroad company, and despite being known colloquially as "the can opener" is actually called Norfolk Southern–Gregson Street Overpass. Before drivers reach the bridge, signs and signals clearly indicate the bridge's height. But some truckers still think they can conquer it, only to end up shaken, wrecked, and without a vehicle. Even worse, insurance doesn't usually cover damage caused by the bridge.

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Youtube / All of these Videos

The bridge has even received national attention, with a recent NBC News article piquing interest in the story. Those who work at an office across the street are so used to the wrecks that they often record them on their phones. Motorists aren't quite as amused when traffic is blocked for hours due to yet another wreck.

There’s even a whole website dedicated to the bridge and the recordings of the wrecks called 11foot8. Many truck drivers who are not familiar with the area are routed under the bridge by GPS, and most of the time it’s too late to turn back once they see the signs. One truck driver even held a “Low Clearance Awareness Day” on November 8th, which is the most recent post on the site – I think he had his eyes on the notorious can opener.

There are plenty of videos to watch the can opener do what it does best. This one posted by yovo60 shows the destruction and aftermath. It’s safe to say that these truck drivers must be certainly jolted after wrecks like these.

This video below by Autoblog shows you the full story – including some gruesome footage.

Many people want to know how this bridge is still standing. Although the bridge sees, on average, one wreck per month, officials say that there are more urgent safety issues to focus on first. Driving under the bridge is at the discretion of the drivers, who are provided with ample notifications of the low bridge height. But again, sometimes you can’t help where your GPS routes you, especially if you’re unfamiliar with the area. Some of the videos posted have 4 million total views on YouTube, so you’d think there would be more concern. For now, the bridge still stands, and hopefully truckers can be more careful of the danger.

Do you have any personal experiences with the can opener?