CSX overpass is city's only threat to tall vehicles

At 12-foot 8-inches above the roadway, the CSX overpass that crosses over West Main Street is the only real candidate in the city of Watertown to be struck by a tall vehicle.

With that stated, Syracuse has had its own problems this month with an overpass that was struck by a megabus, killing four people.

So it just happens to be a coincidence that about two weeks ago Public Works Superintendent Eugene P. Hayes and I had a conversation about how paving a road can affect the clearance for vehicles crossing under such bridges.

Mr. Hayes pointed out that simply slapping a new coat of asphalt on a road will reduce the clearance between the roadway and the bridge. Public Works actually milled the top layer of asphalt along West Main Street, from the city’s western limits to Mohawk Street, prior to resurfacing the road. This ensures than the 12-foot 8-inch posted height remains just that.

Times archives indicate that a vehicle has not struck the CSX bridge in at least 20 years.

While this was not an issue in the Syracuse incident – the bus driver was reportedly distracted by a GPS unit and not paying attention to the warning signs – it’s another factor drivers and Public Works departments must keep in mind while working.