In the small community of Pottsville, one major issue stands out: the railroad overpass with a clearance of 11’6” located near our elementary school. This overpass has become infamous for being a frequent crash site for semi-trucks, leading residents to keep tally marks on the side to track these incidents. The community has humorously nicknamed it "The Can Opener," but the reality is serious—trucks often sustain significant damage when they collide with the bridge.
To tackle this problem, a project team of students; Kylee Story, Madi Pursifull, and Rael Alvarenga, collaborated with Police Chief John Pritchard, who provided valuable insights into the situation. He explained, “The reason these truckers are crashing into the bridge is because instead of using their trucking GPS, they're just using Apple and Google Maps that doesn’t tell them they can’t go under that bridge.” This information underscored the urgent need for navigation tools specifically designed for truckers.
In response, we have actively reached out to both Apple and Google Maps, advocating for the addition of clearance warnings in their navigation apps. Additionally, we have mapped alternative routes using ArcGIS to ensure these paths are safe and suitable for large vehicles, avoiding low-clearance hazards. Our team has dedicated time to self-directed learning with this software, and while it has been challenging, we have grown from the experience.
As we continue this project with new team members—Diamond Young, Addison Mullins, Thao Le, and Serenitie Boyce—we are taking the time to relearn some aspects. Our new members are diving deep into researching the work done by previous groups, continuing outreach to Apple and Google Maps, and refining our alternative routes to keep the urgency of the overpass issue a priority.
We are eager to bring an end to the tally era and look forward to the positive impact that solving this significant problem will have on our community. Together, we aim to enhance safety and improve the overall experience for both truck drivers and everyday drivers navigating through Pottsville.