In case you’re driving a U-Haul or different field truck this move-in season, please please look out for the scores of low clearance bridge indicators and observe their instructions.
That’s once more the message from state officers, as they plead with movers driving vans to keep away from Storrow Drive and Troopers Discipline Highway in Boston and Memorial Drive in Cambridge.
“Storrowing: Don’t let it ruin your move to Boston,” Ryan Hutton, of the state’s Division of Conservation and Recreation, says in a “DCR Action News” PSA video forward of move-in day on Sept. 1.
As college students and different movers drive vans on move-in day, there’s often a leap in Storrowing — when a truck crashes into one of many many low bridges on Storrow Drive, Troopers Discipline Highway and Memorial Drive.
Many overpasses and pedestrian foot bridges stand no taller than 10 ft, properly under the peak of a typical field truck or tractor trailer.
Regardless of massive indicators and flashing lights warning drivers that these roads are restricted to passenger vehicles solely, all year long all forms of vans ram into the low bridges — typically getting caught and inflicting site visitors backups.
“So what can you do to prevent yourself from becoming a victim of Storrowing? Start with driving with your eyes open,” Hutton says. “We put up like 100 indicators in every single place, warning of us of the low clearance heights. Severely, they’re in all places.
“And we installed nearly 40 new high visibility ones this winter that say, ‘Cars Only.’ That means you,” he provides. “You have to be able to see at least one of them to understand that yes, it does apply to you. Eyes open.”
Take the recommendation of DCR Motion Information Anchor Jeff Hairdo and don’t get Storrowed whenever you transfer to Boston this week! Keep in mind that vans and transferring vans aren’t allowed on Storrow Drive & Troopers Discipline Highway in Boston and Memorial Drive in Cambridge pic.twitter.com/odXxQfuYgD
— MassDCR (@MassDCR) August 25, 2025
Hutton recommends not utilizing a traditional GPS app, and as an alternative utilizing a truck driver app in which you’ll be able to enter the peak of your automobile. These apps embody TruckMap and Hammer.
“So prove to everyone that you belong at one of Boston’s very nice colleges by driving with ‘Clear eyes, full hearts, can’t lose… the security deposit on your truck,’ ” he provides.
Widespread alternate transferring routes embody Commonwealth Avenue, the Mass Pike and Beacon Road, amongst others.
AAA Northeast can be warning movers to heed the warning indicators. Entrances to Storrow Drive are marked with flashing lights, message boards and low-hanging indicators designed to softly hit the highest of a tall truck as a warning.
“If the vehicle you’re driving is struck by the warning sign, you will strike a bridge,” AAA Northeast wrote.
Insurance coverage bought from the truck rental firm won’t cowl Storrowing. Hitting a bridge with top limits may very well be thought of negligence, and injury from the crash won’t be coated by the usual plan.
Additionally, in the event you’re in a passenger automobile and end up behind a field truck, tractor trailer or any automobile that seems to be taller than 10 ft on Storrow Drive, maintain your distance. A truck that collides right into a bridge may cause chain response crashes and ship particles onto the roadway.
The Metropolis of Boston has put out a site visitors advisory forward of this busy week. Pupil move-in at native faculties and universities would require non permanent parking restrictions within the metropolis from Aug. 26 to Sept. 2. For data on the parking restrictions, go to www.boston.gov/information/traffic-advisory-2025-student-move.
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