COLLISION AND DAMAGE OF OVERPASSES BY OVERHEIGHT TRUCKS By Eng. Daniel S. Cherono Is your vehicle over height?

On Sunday 31st March 2013, along Juja road, east of Nairobi City, an over height truck brought down a pedestrian overpass at Pangani Girls High School. Eight school girls who were walking on the bridge sustained injuries as it collapsed onto the road beneath them.one week later, on Saturday 6th April 2013, another over height truck collided with the railway overpass connecting the port of Mombasa along Moi Avenue on road A109. The bridge collapsed on the cabin of the truck, injuring the driver and disrupting traffic on the highway for more than ten hours. Several other incidences of damaged by over height loads or trucks have been recorded in the past. The pedestrian footbridge at along Highway (A104) at Nakuru town was hit and destroyed by truck carrying construction equipment on 9th March 2011.Fortunately,the incident happened in the middle of the night when no pedestrians were using the bridge and therefore no injuries were reported. The bridge was demolished and replaced at a cost, which was borne by the owner of the truck. The Kamandura Bridge located at the interchange of Nairobi - Nakuru highway (A104) and Rironi Mai Mahiu (B3) Highways was also severely damaged by a truck laden with over height Load.The Bridge, the damage did not cause catastrophic failure. It was assessed by the Highway Authority and repaired. The vertical clearance was also increased.

Plate no. 1: Damage to bridge girders on the Kamandura Bridge at A104/B3 interchange

Plate no. 2: Collapsed pedestrian overpass at Pangani School on Juja Road

With the development of many bridges, underpasses and overpasses especially on the major highways across the country, to improve flow of traffic at intersections and to enhance the safety of the pedestrians, there is an increased risk of having many more occurrences of such collisions, which may result not only result to injuries or fatalities, but also costly damage to the structures and disruption of traffic flow. It is therefore important that road users with over height loads, road authorities and traffic law enforcement units to work together to avoid such incidences. What is an over height vehicle? A vehicle is over height if, together with its load, it is more than 4.2 metres high above the road surface The Traffic Act cap 403 laws of Kenya (of 2009) schedule 12, limits the overall dimensions of vehicles, including width, height and length. Part 1 of The 12th schedule, section 3 (b) of the Traffic Act cap 403 Laws of Kenya, prescribes that; the maximum overall height of a motor vehicle or combination of vehicles, either laden or unladen, shall not exceed 4.2 metres measured from the road surface The statutory height limit for general access vehicles is 4.2 metres. This allows vehicles 4.2m and under unrestricted access to the road network. It is however important to note that some over-road structures such as cables, railway overpasses, tunnels etc. may be less than 4.2m high. Truck drivers should therefore exercise caution and always watch for signs indicating the height of structures over the road. Due to vandalism, it is possible that signs may be missing on approaches to these structures. Drivers must also be careful since all bridges on the highways do not have a uniform vertical clearance.

Vertical Clearance of overpasses and bridges Most overpass bridges that were constructed before 1990 have vertical clearance of between 4.6m and 4.9m. However older bridges especially those that carry rail transport may have a reduced clearance, due to standards used at the time of the railway. As a result of change of bridge standards, the Highway Authorities require that all new bridges must have a vertical clearance of 5.5m. Permits Vehicles more than 4.2m high are over height and subject to special conditions. A specific permit, from the respective Highway Authority ( KeNHA, KURA or KeRRA) is required for vehicles more than 4.2m high. The permit must be carried at all times during the journey. In addition, the driver must keep to the designated approved route. The permit may require escort vehicles and travel during specific times. Penalties or prosecution in court may result from non-compliance of conditions set out in the permit. Responsibilities of the road user If you are driving an over height vehicle, you have extra responsibilities on the Highways. Your vehicle could have a huge impact on other drivers and the maintenance of overpasses, bridges, tunnels and roads if something goes wrong. You must therefore;

Know the height of your vehicle, by itself as well as with its load before you leave the loading point. Plan your route carefully. Make sure you only travel on authorised routes. Obtain the necessary permits before embarking on your journey Obtain any necessary information such as clearance limits at overpasses and bridges, sections of road under construction etc. from the Highway Authority.

Both the road users and the Highway Authority must take positive steps to prevent a breach of road transport laws, including fatigue, speed, mass, dimension and load restraint laws. All those with responsibility for activities that affect compliance with road transport laws may be held legally accountable if they do not meet their obligations. Designated over height vehicle routes Over height vehicles may only travel on designated routes. These routes are stated on the permits issued and it is the responsibility of the drivers to strictly stick to them at all times.

Eng. Daniel S. Cherono, R.Eng, MIEK works at the Kenya National Highways Authority and comments on engineering matters. sacho77@yahoo.com Twitter: @dcsacho