A semi-truck collided with a railroad trestle on State Route 70 in Marysville Monday morning, striking the bottom of the structure near 24th Street and blocking both eastbound and southbound freeway traffic for hours. Caltrans officials said lane closures in both directions were expected to last several hours, warning drivers to avoid the area while crews worked the scene.
The collision happened near a stretch of track that has become notorious among Marysville drivers. According to FOX40, Caltrans confirmed the truck struck the trestle Monday morning, triggering the lane shutdowns. California Highway Patrol figures reported by ABC10 put the trailer's height at 14 feet, just two inches taller than the trestle's 13-foot-10-inch clearance — a narrow margin that was enough to cause the impact.
A Recurring Hazard Known as the 'Can Opener'
This is far from the first time a truck has gotten tangled up with this stretch of railroad infrastructure. A project manager has estimated that the low-clearance underpasses in Marysville see between one and three semi-truck strikes every year, a pattern persistent enough that some area residents have taken to calling the underpass the “can opener,” per the same ABC10 reporting.
A similar incident in February 2023 shut down State Route 70 between 18th Street and East 12th Street when a big rig became wedged under a Union Pacific trestle in Marysville, according to CBS News. That closure required structural safety inspections by railroad crews before the stuck truck could be safely removed.
What the Law Requires of Oversize Loads
California law sets firm limits on vehicle height. Under California Vehicle Code Section 35250, standard commercial vehicles and loads are capped at a maximum height of 14 feet, and drivers hauling loads over 13 feet 6 inches are legally required to stick to routes confirmed safe for that height, according to FindLaw.
Bridge strikes like Monday's are far from a uniquely local problem. Industry safety data cited in federal research indicates roughly 15,000 bridge strikes occur across the United States every year, causing millions of dollars in infrastructure damage and transportation delays, according to Samsara. During a national “Check Your Height, Know It's Right” campaign involving 26 state transportation departments this past July, AASHTO reported that consumer GPS apps may not know a vehicle's type or flag potential low bridges.
A Fix Is Already Funded, But Years Away
Relief for Marysville drivers is already on the books, even if it won't arrive soon. Caltrans announced in January 2025 an estimated $178.6 million State Route 70 Binney Junction Roadway and Complete Streets Project, which will replace the existing railroad underpasses and raise vertical clearance to 17 feet 6 inches, according to Caltrans. Construction is expected to begin in spring 2027.
For now, Caltrans has urged drivers to steer clear of the area near 24th Street while crews clear the scene. With lane closures expected to stretch across both directions of State Route 70 for several hours, commuters in Marysville were told to plan alternate routes Monday as the cleanup continued.
