The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation launched a pilot program Monday aiming to address the high number of bridge collisions on the parkways along the Charles River.
The program kicked off with the installation of a singular "cars only" sign on David G. Mugar Way at Mt. Vernon Street, just before a ramp onto Storrow Drive. The road is notorious for bridge collisions with too-tall vehicles, locally referred to as "Storrowings."
Bridges over the river-side roads have been hit at least 215 times in the last 22 years — and the true number is likely much higher, according to Jeff Parenti, the deputy chief engineer with the Department of Conservation and Recreation.
The installation comes just days before September 1, when renters and college students will be driving their U-Hauls across the region for the first day of their leases. Storrowings are an "Allston Christmas" tradition — one U-Haul was Storrowed last year on Soldiers Field Road.
With move-in day right around the corner, overpasses all over the Boston area need your help. They need to not be hit by a moving truck on Storrow Drive or Soldiers Field in Boston & Memorial Drive in Cambridge. Plan your move in day route accordingly & watch for the signs! pic.twitter.com/Wkfgcg6Nx3
— MassDCR (@MassDCR) August 23, 2023
Parenti says his message to drivers visiting the city is to always be aware of the vehicle they're driving. He advises drivers to check the vehicle's height, which is typically posted inside the vehicle on the rearview or sideview mirror.
"As soon as you get in the driver's seat of that truck, make sure you understand the height of the vehicle," he said. "As you leave the parking lot, make sure you're watching the signs around the roadway system. Any time you see a ‘No Truck’ sign, we are serious: please do not get on the roadway because you will damage the truck and anything that comes your way."
Officials hope the new signage efforts will reduce confusion for drivers in these low-clearance zones along the Charles River, which in addition to Storrow Drive include Boston's Soldier's Field Road and Cambridge's Memorial Drive. Some parts of the roads have bridges as low as 9 feet, making them impassable for most trucks.
The larger and heavier new aluminum sign replaces an older rubber model that officials say didn't properly alert drivers to the road's low clearance. The new sign is also more reflective and features additional chains that they hope will improve stability, prevent wind damage and lower maintenance costs.
Parenti says that the installation will allow officials to observe the new sign's resiliency to weather and collisions as well as its effectiveness at alerting drivers of over-height vehicles that they are in a low-clearance zone.
"There are 28 total entry points along the river roads [but] we're just doing this one today," Parenti said. "We're going to observe it for a few weeks and see how it performs. Hopefully, it stays in good condition. ... We're going to see how it performs when it's impacted by a truck, see if it dents or or comes loose, and then we'll try to learn from that. If it's successful, we'll go back to the shop and fabricate more."
