Q-C truck-eating bridges gobble up another victim
From the Throwback Thursday: Historic photos from the Quad-Cities series
It's been a while since the Quad-Cities' infamous truck-eating bridges have claimed fresh metal.
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Another truck fell prey to the truck-eating bridge while traveling southbound on Fifth and Harrison streets, Davenport. It was the second in two days.
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Another truck fell prey to the truck-eating bridge while traveling southbound on Fifth and Harrison streets, Davenport. It was the second in two days.
Truck-eating bridge

The truck-eating bridge on Brady Street at 5th Street claimed another victim Thursday afternoon as this box truck became stuck under the railroad bridge. It caused some traffic headaches because lanes are restricted by road work in the area of the bridge.
Truck-eating bridge claims a victim Monday morning

Rock Island Arsenal police and fire crews respond as a truck becomes stuck while attempting to cross the Government Bridge in Davenport on Monday morning.
Truck-eating bridge claims a victim Monday morning

Rock Island Arsenal police and fire crews respond as a truck becomes stuck while attempting to cross the Government Bridge in Davenport on Monday morning.
Truck-eating bridge claims a victim Monday morning

Rock Island Arsenal police and fire crews respond as a truck becomes stuck while attempting to cross the Government Bridge in Davenport on Monday morning.
Truck-eating bridge claims a victim Monday morning

Government Bridge traffic is blocked southbound as a truck appears to be wedged between the upper and lower deck of the on-ramp.
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A semi tractor trailer stuck under the railroad overpass at 5th and Brady streets in Davenport, Iowa Friday, July 26, 2019.
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A semi tractor trailer stuck under the railroad overpass at 5th and Brady streets in Davenport, Iowa Friday, July 26, 2019.
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A semi tractor trailer stuck under the railroad overpass at 5th and Brady streets in Davenport, Iowa Friday, July 26, 2019.
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A semi tractor trailer got stuck under the railroad overpass at 5th and Brady streets in Davenport on Friday.
Truck stuck

When the sign says "low clearance" it means low clearance as this trucker found out this morning trying to cross the Mississippi River from Davenport to Rock Island via the Government Bridge.
Truck stuck 2

When the sign says "low clearance" it means low clearance as this trucker found out this morning trying to cross the Mississippi River from Davenport to Rock Island via the Government Bridge.
Truck-eating bridge May 2019

In May 2019 at 5th and Brady, Davenport, morning commuters see an all-too-familiar scene of a truck stuck under the bridge. Another truck hit a bridge on Wednesday, Dec. 18, while traveling southbound on Harrison Street.
The truck eating bridge strikes again on Harrison Street

The truck eating bridge strikes again on Harrison Street. The recycling container appears to have stuck the dismount.
truck stuck

A delivery truck with Linn Star Transfer Inc. is stuck this morning on the Davenport side of the Government Bridge.
truck eating bridge

It's lunch time (April 5, 2018) and the bridge at 5th and Harrison streets in Davenport decided this semi was on the menu. Chomp. Chomp.
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A delivery truck from Aaron’s struck the underside of the railroad bridge near the Kirkwood Blvd and Mound Street in Davenport Monday, December 11, 2017. No injuries were reported from the incident that tore the top from the vehicle.
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It's lunch time (April 5, 2018) and the bridge at 5th and Harrison streets in Davenport decided this semi was on the menu. Chomp. Chomp.
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It's lunch time (April 5, 2018) and the bridge at 5th and Harrison streets in Davenport decided this semi was on the menu. Chomp. Chomp.
Brady Street Truck damaged

The truck-eating bridge on Brady Street at 5th Street claimed another victim Tuesday afternoon.
Harrison Street bridge claims another truck

A truck driver watches as a crew works to detach the tractor and trailer pinned under the railroad overpass Monday at 5th and Harrison streets in Davenport. A Nevada truck driver was ticketed for failure to obey a traffic control device when the Volvo semitractor-trailer he was driving became another victim of the truck-eating bridge at 2:28 p.m. A crew from Fred's Towing, Davenport, removed the vehicle and the trailer, which was empty. Harrison Street traffic was reduced to two lanes in the area. A representative from the Iowa Interstate Railroad Ltd. said the bridge was not damaged. No one was injured.
Harrison Street bridge claims another truck

A semitrailer is pinned under the railroad overpass Monday at 5th and Harrison streets in Davenport. A Nevada truck driver was ticketed for failure to obey a traffic control device when the Volvo semitractor-trailer he was driving became another victim of the truck-eating bridge at 2:28 p.m. A crew from Fred's Towing, Davenport, removed the vehicle and the trailer, which was empty. Harrison Street traffic was reduced to two lanes in the area. A representative from the Iowa Interstate Railroad Ltd. said the bridge was not damaged. No one was injured.
Harrison Street bridge claims another truck

The trailer is stuck under the railroad overpass at 5th and Harrison streets Monday in Davenport after the semitractor was removed. A Nevada truck driver was ticketed for failure to obey a traffic control device when the Volvo semitractor-trailer he was driving became another victim of the truck-eating bridge at 2:28 p.m. A crew from Fred's Towing, Davenport, removed the vehicle and the trailer, which was empty. Harrison Street traffic was reduced to two lanes in the area. A representative from the Iowa Interstate Railroad Ltd. said the bridge was not damaged. No one was injured.
Harrison Street bridge claims another truck

A tractor and trailer are pinned under the railroad overpass at 5th and Harrison streets Monday in Davenport. A Nevada truck driver was ticketed for failure to obey a traffic control device when the Volvo semitractor-trailer he was driving became another victim of the truck-eating bridge at 2:28 p.m. A crew from Fred's Towing, Davenport, removed the vehicle and the trailer, which was empty. Harrison Street traffic was reduced to two lanes in the area. A representative from the Iowa Interstate Railroad Ltd. said the bridge was not damaged. No one was injured.
Harrison Street bridge claims another truck

Debris litters the road near the railroad overpass at 5th and Harrison streets in Davenport. A Nevada truck driver was ticketed for failure to obey a traffic control device when the Volvo semitractor-trailer he was driving became another victim of the truck-eating bridge at 2:28 p.m. A crew from Fred's Towing, Davenport, removed the vehicle and the trailer, which was empty. Harrison Street traffic was reduced to two lanes in the area. A representative from the Iowa Interstate Railroad Ltd. said the bridge was not damaged. No one was injured.
Harrison Street bridge claims another truck

A trailer is wedged under the railroad overpass at 5th and Harrison streets Monday in Davenport. A Nevada truck driver was ticketed for failure to obey a traffic control device when the Volvo semitractor-trailer he was driving became another victim of the truck-eating bridge at 2:28 p.m. A crew from Fred's Towing, Davenport, removed the vehicle and the trailer, which was empty. Harrison Street traffic was reduced to two lanes in the area. A representative from the Iowa Interstate Railroad Ltd. said the bridge was not damaged. No one was injured.
Harrison Street bridge claims another truck

A smokestack and upper section are up against the underside of the railroad overpass at 5th and Harrison streets Monday in Davenport. A Nevada truck driver was ticketed for failure to obey a traffic control device when the Volvo semitractor-trailer he was driving became another victim of the truck-eating bridge at 2:28 p.m. A crew from Fred's Towing, Davenport, removed the vehicle and the trailer, which was empty. Harrison Street traffic was reduced to two lanes in the area. A representative from the Iowa Interstate Railroad Ltd. said the bridge was not damaged. No one was injured.
Harrison Street bridge claims another truck

A truck driver looks at his tractor and trailer, pinned under the railroad overpass at 5th and Harrison streets Monday in Davenport. A Nevada truck driver was ticketed for failure to obey a traffic control device when the Volvo semitractor-trailer he was driving became another victim of the truck-eating bridge at 2:28 p.m. A crew from Fred's Towing, Davenport, removed the vehicle and the trailer, which was empty. Harrison Street traffic was reduced to two lanes in the area. A representative from the Iowa Interstate Railroad Ltd. said the bridge was not damaged. No one was injured. To see more photos, go to qctimes.com/gallery.
Harrison Street bridge claims another truck

A truck is stuck under the railroad overpass at 5th and Harrison streets Monday in Davenport. A Nevada truck driver was ticketed for failure to obey a traffic control device when the Volvo semitractor-trailer he was driving became another victim of the truck-eating bridge at 2:28 p.m. A crew from Fred's Towing, Davenport, removed the vehicle and the trailer, which was empty. Harrison Street traffic was reduced to two lanes in the area. A representative from the Iowa Interstate Railroad Ltd. said the bridge was not damaged. No one was injured.
Harrison Street bridge claims another truck

Crews work to remove a semitractor-trailer wedged under the railroad overpass at 5th and Harrison streets Monday in Davenport. A Nevada truck driver was ticketed for failure to obey a traffic control device when the Volvo semitractor-trailer he was driving became another victim of the truck-eating bridge at 2:28 p.m. A crew from Fred's Towing, Davenport, removed the vehicle and the trailer, which was empty. Harrison Street traffic was reduced to two lanes in the area. A representative from the Iowa Interstate Railroad Ltd. said the bridge was not damaged. No one was injured.
Truck-eating bridge

The truck-eating bridge at Harrison and 5th in Davenport, left hungry at times due to so many signs and warning lights, got a mouthful Monday afternoon.
Truck-eating bridge

The truck-eating bridge at Harrison and 5th in Davenport, left hungry at times due to so many signs and warning lights, got a mouthful Monday afternoon.
Another day, another bridge to feed. (This time featuring video) @qctimes @QCTtraffic pic.twitter.com/jiv7bRqyqg
— Andy Abeyta (@andy_abeyta) March 27, 2017
Truck-eating bridge

It's a nice day to take the top down. The truck-eating bridge on Brady agrees. #qctraffic
Truck-eating bridge

One of Davenport's infamous truck-eating bridges strikes again. This time at 5th and Brady streets.
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Semi-tractor trailer hits the railroad overpass on Brady Street in Davenport.
Truck-eating bridge

Semi bit by Brady Street overpass on Sept. 8, 2016. Some of it -- or earlier meal of truck-eating bridge -- was left behind. (See next photo.)
Truck-eating bridge

Semi bit by Brady Street overpass on Sept. 8, 2016. Some of it -- or earlier meal of truck-eating bridge -- was left behind.
Truck-eating bridge

A crew works to remove a semi-truck and trailer after it becomes stuck under a railroad overpass on Brady Street near West 5th Street in Davenport on Wednesday, August 24, 2016.
Truck-eating bridge

A semi hits the railroad overpass in downtown Davenport on Wednesday, August 24, 2016. (Photo by Michael Liendo)
Truck stuck

A semi-tractor trailer hit the underpass at Harrison and West 5th Streets in Davenport on Monday, August 15, 2016.
Truck-eating bridge

Guess where this truck has been. The truck-eating Harrison Street Bridge gets another one on Tuesday, March 1.
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Davenport's truck-eating bridge at Harrison and 5th streets strikes again.
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Another semi sits under the bridge at 5th and Brady streets.
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The truck-eating bridge at 5th and Brady streets in Davenport has claimed another victim.
Don't forget to order your truck-eating bridge calendar! 100 percent of the proceeds from this popular calendar benefit literacy efforts in local schools! Click here to order: http://qctimes.info/nie/
June 16, 2015: 5th and Brady

A truck driver once again tried to test the laws of physics this morning by attempting to get his rig under the railroad bridge at 5th and Brady streets in Davenport.
Truck-eating bridge at Brady

A semi from the Hirschbach Motor Lines Inc. was damaged after striking the underside the bridge at 5th and Brady.
Truck stuck at Brady

Another semi-tractor trailer got stuck under the bridge at 5th and Brady in Davenport.
Semi hits bridge

Truck-eating bridge snags another vehicle at Brady and 5th streets, Davenport, on Jan. 28, 2015.
Semi hits bridge

Truck-eating bridge snags another vehicle at Brady and 5th streets, Davenport, on Jan. 28, 2015.
Turnaround

Illinois-bound and Iowa-bound traffic shut down after a semi attempted to turn around for being over height.
Turnaround

Illinois-bound and Iowa-bound traffic shut down after a semi attempted to turn around for being over height.
Truck-eating bridge

Another semi had a bite taken out of it by the Harrison Street railroad overpass on Friday, Oct. 24, 2014. The driver said he saw the 11'-8" signs but thought his truck was only 11-foot-6.
truck eating bridge

Oct. 2: Built in crane on truck stuck on Government Bridge overhead beam.
Truck stuck

Another truck gets stuck on the Government Bridge on Oct. 2, 2014.
Government bridge

This driver of this truck found out this morning that his rig was too tall to go under the Government Bridge. Photo shot from the Iowa side.
Bridge

Truck-eating bridge on Harrison claims another victim.
Bridge

A trailer was torn apart after hitting the bridge at Harrison and 5th in Davenport on Sept. 22, 2014.
Truck-eating bridge

Another truck-eating bridge incident in the Quad-Cities. This time it's the Government Bridge that blocked a truck's exhaust pipes on Wednesday afternoon.
Bridge I-280 Illinois 92

New addition to truck-eating bridge family? Something hit this sign at the Interstate 280 and Illinois 92 interchange.
Bridge hit and run

A semi-truck trailer operated by Van Wyk Freight Lines of Grinnell, Iowa, struck the railroad overpass at 5th and Harrison Streets Wednesday, August 20, 2014 in Davenport, Iowa. The vehicle left the scene and was stopped by the Davenport Police several blocks away.
Truck stuck

Another truck got stuck under the Brady Street overpass on Friday, Nov. 1, 2013.
Government Bridge

A tow truck removes a truck that hit the Rock Island side of the Government Bridge Tuesday October 1, 2013. The posted bridge height opening on the Government Bridge is 11 feet.
Bridge crash

This driver of this vehicle found out this morning he had too big of a truck to negotiate the Government Bridge. The truck became wedged under the bridge at the Davenport entrance. Traffic to and from Arsenal Island was stopped until the damaged vehicle could be removed. (Rick Rector/Quad-City Times)
Another close call

A semi sets off the warning lights before the Harrison Street truck-eating bridge in Davenport on Monday, August 19, 2013. The truck turned off in time.
Brady Street bridge

Even the truck-eating bridge on Brady Street gets dressed up for the Bix 7.
Truck-eating bridge

A June casualty of the Davenport railroad bridge over Brady and Harrison streets.
Truck-eating bridge warning lights

A cement mixer set off the warning lights on Harrison Street on Friday morning, but the truck-eating bridge went hungry.
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A worker inspects a semi-tractor trailer with Celadon that got caught under the over pass on Brady Street during the lunch hour Monday, April 15, 2013.
Truck eaten on Brady

A truck got caught over the lunch hour Monday, April 15, 2013, on Brady Street.
Bridge eats truck

A truck turns off Harrison Street onto 5th Street, bypassing a truck that was stuck under the bridge Tuesday, April 2, 2013. (John Schultz / Quad-City Times)
Bridge eats truck

The Harrison Street bridge claims another truck on Tuesday, April 2, 2013. The trailer was not damaged, just the top of the cab. (John Schultz / Quad-City Times)
Loader hits bridge

A truck hauling a wheel-loader hit the HON Oak Laminate conveyer that crosses East Second Street Tuesday morning in Muscatine. The Muscatine Police Department are diverting traffic while crews worked to remove the truck and trailer.
Truck-eating bridge threat averted

Police stop a truck headed for the Government Bridge on Arsenal Island on Tuesday, March 12, 2013.
TRUCK EATING BRIDGE

A semi truck heading North up the Brady Street hill got stuck under the low railroad span Tuesday afternoon October 23, 2012, causing traffic to back up in downtown Davenport, Iowa The trailer was visibly peeled back about nine feet. (Kevin E. Schmidt/QUAD-CITY TIMES)
TRUCK EATING BRIDGE

A semi truck heading North up the Brady Street hill got stuck under the low railroad span Tuesday afternoon October 23, 2012, causing traffic to back up in downtown Davenport, Iowa The trailer was visibly peeled back about nine feet. (Kevin E. Schmidt/QUAD-CITY TIMES)
Truck-eating bridge

A semi trailer got stuck under the Brady Street railroad overpass on Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2012.
Truck-eating bridge

The truck-eating bridge at 5th and Brady Streets in Davenport claimed another victim late Wednesday morning. October 17, 2012. (Larry Fisher/QUAD-CITY TIMES)
Truck-eating bridge

A truck heading up the Brady Street hill got stuck under the low railroad span just before noon on Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2012.
Truck-eating bridge

A truck heading up the Brady Street hill got stuck under the low railroad span just before noon on Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2012.
Truck-eating bridge

A truck heading up the Brady Street hill got stuck under the low railroad span just before noon on Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2012.
Truck-eating bridge

A truck heading up the Brady Street hill got stuck under the low railroad span just before noon on Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2012.
Crash 2

Davenport Police crime scene technician Herve Denain, left, and Davenport Police Cpl. Brian Heick inspect the remains of a U-Haul truck that had its top ripped off after the driver of the vehicle drove underneath the railroad bridge on Kirkwood Boulevard near Mound Street. (Thomas Geyer/QUAD-CITY TIMES)
Crash

Davenport police and a driver with Fred’s Towing discuss how to remove the top of a U-Haul truck that was rammed into the railroad bridge on Kirkwood Boulevard near Mound Street Saturday night. The driver of the truck kept going. Police found the truck parked on Hildreth Street between 12th and 13th streets.
Truck

A truck heading up the hill got stuck under the low railroad span on Brady Street about 6:30 p.m. Monday, causing traffic to back up in downtown Davenport.
Truck stuck

A semi truck got stuck under the Government Bridge just before 4 p.m. on Friday, July 6, 2012.
Truck stuck

A semi truck got stuck under the Government Bridge on Friday, July 6, 2012.
Truck stuck

A semi truck got stuck under the Government Bridge on Friday, July 6, 2012.
Accident

This “Roll-A-Show” semitrailer was stuck about 10 p.m. Sunday under the railroad bridge at Brady and 5th streets, Davenport. There was cotton-like stuffing on the roadway, and debris thrown across about three lines of traffic. Davenport police were on the scene late Sunday.
Photo by Deirdre Cox Baker
Truck stuck

The Government Bridge was closed for at least two hours after an Illinois-bound semitrailer became stuck on March 20, 2012. (Dan Bowerman / QUAD-CITY TIMES)
Truck stuck

The Government Bridge was closed for at least two hours after an Illinois-bound semitrailer became stuck on March 20, 2012. (Dan Bowerman / QUAD-CITY TIMES)
Truck stuck

The Government Bridge was closed for at least two hours after an Illinois-bound semitrailer became stuck on March 20, 2012. (Dan Bowerman / QUAD-CITY TIMES)
Truck stuck

The Government Bridge was closed for at least two hours after an Illinois-bound semitrailer became stuck on March 20, 2012. (Dan Bowerman / QUAD-CITY TIMES)
Truck-eating bridge

A semitrailer carrying tulips crashed into the railroad bridge passing over Brady Street in downtown Davenport on Thursday, Feb. 2, 2012. (Thomas Geyer/Quad-City Times)
Truck-eating bridge 2012

A semi's trailer gets wedged under the Harrison Street railroad overpass as train cars pass overhead on Sunday, Jan. 22, 2012. (Thomas Geyer / QUAD-CITY TIMES)
TRUCK BRIDGE

Traffic moves around a semi trailer from Waller Truck Co., Inc. from Excelsior Springs, Mo., as it waits to be towed away from the Brady Street railroad overpass at 5th Street where it had been stuck Wednesday November 2, 2011. (Kevin E. Schmidt/QUAD-CITY TIMES)
Truck stuck

A scrap metal truck got stuck under the Pershing Ave. railroad bridge in Davenport on Wednesday afternoon. (Kevin E. Schmidt / QUAD-CITY TIMES)
Truck stuck

A scrap metal truck got stuck under the Pershing Ave. railroad bridge in Davenport on Wednesday afternoon. (Brian Wellner / QUAD-CITY TIMES)
Truck_crash_091911

The Arsenal bridge is closed to vehicles on the Iowa side after this semi became wedged under the railroad overpass Monday morning. September 19, 2011. (Larry Fisher/QUAD-CITY TIMES)
Truck hits Brady Street overpass

Two lanes of Brady Street are blocked Wednesday morning after this semi trailer became wedged under the Brady Street railroad overpass at 5th Street. August 31, 2011. (Larry Fisher/QUAD-CITY TIMES)
Truck hits Government Bridge

Arsenal and Davenport police respond to a semi stuck this morning on the north end of the Government Bridge over the Mississippi River between Davenport and Arsenal Island in Rock Island. (Mark Ridolfi/Quad-City Times)
Truck hits Government Bridge

A tow truck operator lets the air out of the back tires of a truck stuck under the Government Bridge, Friday, Aug. 19, 2011. The truck is listed at 13 feet 6 inches tall, and the bridge opening is only 11 feet high. (John Schultz / Quad-City Times)
Truck hits Government Bridge

A tow truck operator lets the air out of the back tires of a truck stuck under the Government Bridge, Friday, Aug. 19, 2011. The truck is listed at 13 feet 6 inches tall, and the bridge opening is only 11 feet high. (John Schultz / Quad-City Times)
Beer truck hits bridge

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Truck hits bridge

Harrison Street crash

Harrison Street crash

Truck stuck

Railroad bridge claims another truck

Another one bites the dust at Harrison

Truck-eating bridge 1, driver 0

Driver wedges truck on Government Bridge

Dog inspects damage

A dog looks at the damage to his master's truck after it hit the railroad bridge at 6th and Brady streets on Jan. 28, 2008. The railroad overpass on Harrison Street is notorious for "eating" semi trucks, but other bridges in the Quad-Cities have given trucks problems as well. (Larry Fisher / QUAD-CITY TIMES)
Truck-eating bridge

Who pays price when trucks get stuck under the bridge?

Truck-eating bridge

Truck-eating bridge

Truck-eating bridge

Truck-eating bridge

Truck stuck on Government Bridge removed

1971 truck-eating bridge coverage

A photo from 1971 accompanies a Quad-City Times article on the "truck-eating viaduct" on Brady Street. A proposed solution at the time was yellow flashing lights. "Must this viaduct ramming go on forever?" 42 years later...