If you’re towing a travel trailer or driving a tall rig through Durham, North Carolina, here’s a spot to avoid: the Norfolk Southern–Gregson Street Overpass—infamously known as the “11-foot-8 Bridge” or the “Can Opener.” Built in 1940, this low-clearance railroad bridge crosses over South Gregson Street, just outside downtown Durham, and carries both freight and passenger trains.
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Durham Can Opener bridge RV crash video reveals it all
The problem? It was designed when vehicles were a lot shorter. Its clearance was just 11 feet, 8 inches—a height that might have been fine back then, but no more. Since the 1970s, the standard clearance for bridges has been at least 14 feet, but older bridges were grandfathered in and never raised.
In October 2019, the railroad company raised the bridge by 8 inches to 12 feet 4 inches to reduce collisions. However, the crossing remains below the standard height, and despite flashing signs, hanging chains, and warning systems, tall vehicles continue to snag it.
Trucks, buses, and, yes, RVs regularly strike the bridge, often losing rooftop equipment—or entire roofs—in the process. That’s how it earned nicknames like the “Can Opener” and “Gregson Street Guillotine.” In fact, there have been so many hits that a local office worker set up cameras in 2008 to record the crashes. Those videos have turned the bridge into an internet sensation.
The most recent accident
Unfortunately, the spectacle continued on July 30, when an RV owner misjudged the clearance—or ignored the warnings—and wrecked their travel trailer under the bridge. The trip came to an abrupt and costly end. One assumes if there was a “navigator” in the passenger seat, the driver got an ear full. Or maybe it’s the other way around.
Historical sourcing courtesy wikipedia.
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RVT1221b
How many conversations and notices does it take? How many warnings does it take? Sorry to see this happen but……… ya’ can’t fix………. you know!
Thank you, Russ and Tina! 🙂 Wow! I am glad that the enterprising employee set up the camera. It does seem that folks would have a better grasp of the height of their RV than to allow a bridge to remove their air conditioning units. Have a great week and safe travels!
11′-8″ +8″ is one famous video source on YouTube. The bridge height warnings have been upgraded numerous times over the years. Unfortunately, The Can-Opener still catches unsuspecting people.
Best and only advice to give for RV height was an article read from years ago, that stated to use a 2×4 laid on the RV roof A/C. Then with a helper measure the distance to the ground, left & right. Then add 3″ to that figure for possible road irregularities. Tape, write, decal that figure somewhere in the drivers view. On the instrument panel, windshield, anywhere that figure is visible to any driver of your rig.
Our rig is 11′-3″. I write 11′-6″ on our windshield.
Why does the sign next to the Bridge say 12’4″? Which is it? 11’8″ or 12’4″ – that’s a big difference for an RV.
Interesting to note that the Overheight Sign (“Overheight – Must Turn”) did not illuminate
Nick, the bridge was originally 11’8” but was recently raised to 12’4”, hence the signage.
As for the lights, look at the red traffic signal that the vehicle drove through. The flashing lights that were there prior were blamed as “difficult to process” by drivers so they were replaced with more familiar traffic signals. As the video shows, even a solid red light didn’t slow the driver.
The Overheight sign came on at the :06 point in the video.
And he drove through a red light. Does anyone really feel sorry for this person?
My first trip to Canada, I scrambled to figure it out in meters, on the run. Oh I made it. My rig is 3.91m, no problem
Situational awareness in dire shortage.
I just make it “easy” and say our rig is a “teenager” and don’t go under anything less than that…then no worries at all. Why risk even a scrape??
I live in Durham and am quite familiar with this railroad underpass. There are many signs and an overheight electric eye system that triggers the sign (which was lit) and an immediate yellow and red light sequence. Anyone that hits the underpass had to also run the red light. You really have to not be paying attention to do damage.
Ya can’t fix stupid. What an idiot.
CRAZY, but it happened. We took our class B, ’15 Roadtrek to the local Chevy dealer to have the dah a/c repaired. We arriving at the service entrance, you have to drive thru an arch, which I think takes pictures of your vehicle so at a later date the vehicle owner can’t complain there was damage done to their vehicle. That warning bar at the arch says 8′ 2″, our B is 8′ 4″. The service advisor told the wife, she does all the driving because of my poor vision, come on in you will clear. NOPE, the wife said, the rig is to high, it is 8′ 4″. Again he said you will clear. NOPE she said again. She shut the engine off and got out. The advisor drove it around the back. Know the height!!!
There is another one nicknamed “Can Opener Bridge” in Glenville, NY, also 10’11”. This is a railroad bridge on Glenridge Rd (Between NY Rte 146 and Rte 50).