The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) contracted with CH2M HILL to evaluate the use of Overheight Vehicle Detection and Warning systems as a part of the Old Plank Road bridge replacement project. The site is in Oakland County on the western fringe of the metropolitan Detroit area. Overheight trucks traveling on I-96 in Oakland County, between the Livingston County line and I-275, have had a history of collisions resulting in damage to structures with sub-standard vertical clearance. As a result, the MDOT initiated this study to examine strategies to mitigate these bridge hit incidents and corollary damage costs. Three tasks were associated with this study. The first task was to identify the existing clearances and the magnitude of the problem. The second was to research possible solutions and determine their effectiveness. The third task was to assess the viability of each alternative and recommend a solution for implementation. There are at least three alternative "Early Warning" devices or installations (or combination thereof) which if installed will reduce the number and severity of bridge collisions (high load hits) in the study area bridge structures. The study is to examine warning systems for truck traffic headed eastbound or westbound who have an overheight load, so they can exit the freeway and avoid a collision at the structures over I-96.
Abstract