“Check Your Height, Know It’s Right” educational campaign to avoid crashes at bridges starting in Georgia

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) - Georgia Department of Transportation leaders are joining a campaign called “Check Your Height, Know it’s Right,” to educate all drivers about reading and understanding bridge clearance signage before it’s too late.

GDOT Deputy Commissioner Andrew Heath’s presentation at Thursday’s monthly board meeting used the Chatham Parkway bridge as an example of the importance for all drivers to know the clearance height before attempting to sneak underneath.

He said the campaign targets all classes of drivers operating commercial trucks, lease trucks, and recreational vehicles. The education campaign is part of other states along the eastern seaboard as well, according to GDOT Deputy Commissioner Andrew Heath.

It’s now more than a year to the day since the truck pulling an excavator rammed into the bridge, causing Interstate 16 and the bridge to close down. It delayed the original plans to raise it and widen the interstate, as WTOC has covered.

“It’s just one example of how bridge strikes necessitate unexpected road closures, repairs, or replacement of bridges and infrastructure, so obviously we want to participate in this program to try and avoid that type of event from happening.”

GDOT leaders told WTOC that the extended deadline date to reopen the bridge to the 17,000 drivers is still set for Saturday, July 19.

373 days since the accident.