Bridge Clearances on I5 N and PCH South

[heypilch]

Hi all,

I've got a big roadtrip planned for work & will be pulling my 40' TH, which is 13'4" high. I'll be going up to Washington (from Southern California) via I5 and coming back down along the coast if I can. I was concerned about bridge and/or tunnel clearances on both of these state highways. Are there any places I should be concerned about, or avoid altogether?

Thanks in advance for all your help/advice!
Tim

[GOLDWINGER2]

You won't have a problem anywhere on I-5, coming back down the 13'4" should be OK. Now the 40', hmmm...
could be tight in some spots, watch the curves.
J

[heypilch]

Thank you for that, Goldwinger! I really want to take the 101 on the way home, but I'm starting to wonder if it's really a good idea. Originally, I thought that there MUST have been other big TH's that have gone through there, but now I don't know...

[frankdamp]

There are a few places where the off-ramps go under I-5 and the bridge height is only 14' 0". We used to have an overpass in Mount Vernon that was only 14' 3" and it got hit about once a week. They rebuilt it a couple of years ago and it's now 16'. The underpass at Kincaid St in MV is one ot the 14-footers.

[Wayne M]

An 18 wheeler box is 13' 6", so if they can clear, you can clear.

Here is the web site that I check when I'm going to travel an area that I'm not sure about: (Do not take any web site as gospel, things change. Watch for the yellow warning signs.)

AITA Low Clearances

The only low clearance listed on this web site on US-101 is:

US 101 Thousand Oaks- 3.9 miles west of CA 23 14'0"

Remember that any re-surfacing of the road can change the height by up to two inches, and that the maintenance department may not have gotten around to changing the yellow warning sign. If it says 13' 6" and you are 13' 4", go very very slow with a ground guide.

[Old Rv'er]

Some points to ponder.
1. Purchase the Truckers Atlas. It shows only approved "Big Rig" frendly roads, which will make planning your trip easier.
2. You also can get the Moutain Pass Book, which tells you about all the mountain passes you might travel. There is an east coast and west coast version, Camping World sells it, call to make sure they have it in stock.
3. Don't use a GPS for your travel planning, as many times they will take you the quickest route, which may put you on or over bridges not approved for the weight you are carrying. Plan your trip using the above two references, with maybe a map software package as a check of your route.
4. Just when you think you got it figured out, you will make a wrong turn, due to construction, too much, or too little coffee, or whatever, my motto is safety is Number 1, so don't get flustered and do something silly (read stupid), find a place to pull over safely, then check your maps, and think safely how to overcome the mistake.

Highway 101 has some "VERY" tight turns in Southern Oregon, I won't take my MH their, so I don't recommend you taking your righ there. Again, check the map.

[1ciderdog]

I've traveled both HWY 101 and I-5 to/from Southern California to Northwest Washington and have not had a problem with corners or low bridges. Travel is certainly slower than taking I-5 but I think much prettier. I would strongly suggest you stay off California Highway 1 in Northern CA.
Bob

[bkphotog]

Hi

I would also recommend that you stay off of US 1 in Northern California. All the rain we have had in California in the last couple of weeks has washed out the road and a bridge near Big Sur. Cal Trans states that it may be weeks before it is all repaired. Check with the CA Highway Patrol and Cal Trans daily for up dates on all Calfornia roads. The truckers book mentioned above is a good book to have for info on bridges and heights.

US 101 is fine. Truckers use it all the time when the snow closes I5 at the "grapevine" north of LA.

Good Luck
Bill