It is a specific, metallic sound. A sickening crunch. The noise of a $100,000 rental truck turning into an open-topped sardine can in under a second. If you’ve spent any time on the internet in the last fifteen years, you’ve seen it happen.
The 11-foot-8 bridge in Durham, North Carolina, is probably the most famous piece of railroad infrastructure in the world. Officially known as the Norfolk Southern–Gregson Street Overpass, this unassuming steel beam has a cult following, a dedicated YouTube channel with millions of views, and a nickname that strikes fear into the hearts of moving-van drivers everywhere: The Can Opener.
But why? In an era of smart cars and GPS, how does a single bridge continue to scalp vehicles with such relentless efficiency?
The Geometry of a Disaster
The problem is deceptively simple. Most modern interstate overpasses are at least 14 feet high. However, this bridge dates back to an era—specifically the 1920s—when standards were a bit more "relaxed." For decades, the clearance was exactly 11 feet and 8 inches.
That’s a problem because a standard large moving truck or a freight carrier usually needs about 12 feet 6 inches to 13 feet 6 inches of headroom. You do the math. When a 12-foot truck tries to fit through an 11-foot-8 gap, physics wins every single time.
It’s Not Just One Thing
Basically, it’s a perfect storm of urban planning and stubborn geology. You can’t easily raise the bridge because it carries heavy freight trains; raising the tracks would require regrading miles of rail line in both directions, costing millions. You can’t easily lower the road because there’s a massive municipal sewer main running right underneath Gregson Street.
So, the bridge stayed. And the trucks kept coming.
The Man Behind the Camera
We wouldn't even be talking about this if it weren't for Jürgen Henn. In 2008, Henn, who worked in an office right next to the bridge, decided to set up a camera. He was tired of telling people about the crashes and having them not believe how frequent they were.
He started the website 11foot8.com. Since then, he has captured over 170 "crashes" on video.
These aren't just little scrapes. We are talking about entire roofs being peeled back like the lid of a tuna can. Sometimes the air conditioning units on top of RVs are sheared clean off. Other times, the entire box of the truck crumples, leaving the chassis to wedge itself under the steel. It's violent. It’s expensive. And for some reason, it’s incredibly cathartic to watch.
Why Signs Don't Work
You’ve probably asked yourself: "Aren't there signs?"
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Oh, there are signs. There are so many signs. There are "Low Clearance" warnings blocks away. There are flashing yellow lights. There is even a sophisticated laser-sensor system that detects an over-height vehicle and triggers a massive LED sign that screams OVERHEIGHT MUST TURN.
People still hit it.
Honestly, it’s a fascinating study in human psychology and "inattentional blindness." When you’re driving a big rental truck, you’re often stressed. You’re looking at your GPS. You’re thinking about your new apartment or the heavy furniture in the back. You see a green light—the bridge is right next to an intersection—and your brain just registers "GO." You ignore the flashing lights because, let’s be real, we’re all conditioned to ignore the visual noise of a modern city.
Then—CRUNCH.
The 2019 "Raising"
In October 2019, the North Carolina Railroad Company finally decided to do something about the carnage. They didn't raise the tracks miles back, but they managed to jack the bridge up by 8 inches.
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The 11-foot-8 bridge became the 12-foot-4 bridge.
Everyone thought the "Can Opener" was retired. Surely, an extra 8 inches would solve the problem? Nope. Within weeks, the bridge claimed its first victim under the new height. While it catches fewer "standard" vans now, it still sits just low enough to snag modern tractor-trailers and the tallest rental trucks. The legend simply rebranded as "11-foot-8+8."
The Infamous Crash Beam
If you look closely at the videos, you’ll notice the trucks don't actually hit the bridge's structural ironwork most of the time. They hit a massive, yellow steel I-beam positioned just in front of it.
This is the "crash beam."
Norfolk Southern put it there to protect the actual bridge. If a truck hits the bridge directly, it could potentially displace the tracks and derail a train. That would be a catastrophe. The crash beam is designed to take the hit, stay stationary, and sacrifice the truck to save the train. It is a literal wall of steel. It has been hit hundreds of times and barely has a scratch, though it’s been repainted more times than most people can count.
What Happens After the Crunch?
If you're the driver, your day just got exponentially worse. Usually, the sequence goes like this:
- The driver hits the beam and the truck stops dead.
- They sit in the cab for about thirty seconds in pure, silent shock.
- They hop out, look at the roof, and put their hands on their head in the universal gesture of "I messed up."
- The Durham Police Department shows up.
- The driver gets a ticket (usually for "failing to heed a traffic sign").
- A very specialized tow truck has to come and drag the remains away.
Insurance often doesn't cover this. If you read the fine print on a U-Haul or Penske rental agreement, "overhead damage" is frequently excluded from the basic insurance packages. Drivers end up on the hook for thousands of dollars because they thought they could squeeze through.
Dealing with the Legend
The bridge has become a local landmark. People visit it. It has its own merchandise. It’s a weird, modern monument to the limits of infrastructure and the persistence of human error.
Even with the 8-inch lift, the bridge remains a bottleneck. It’s a reminder that our cities are built on layers of history. We are driving 2026-model vehicles through 1920s-era bottlenecks. Sometimes, those two worlds collide.
Tips for Avoiding the Can Opener
If you find yourself driving through Durham—or any unfamiliar city—with a large vehicle, here is how you stay off a YouTube "fail" compilation:
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- Know your height. Check the sticker inside the cab. Most rentals are 12'6" or higher.
- GPS isn't God. Standard Google Maps or Apple Maps are designed for cars. They do not account for bridge heights. Use an "RV" or "Trucker" GPS app if you’re hauling a load.
- Trust the flashing lights. If a sign specifically starts flashing at you as you approach an intersection, it’s not a coincidence. It means you.
- The "Gregson" Rule. In Durham, if you are in a truck, just avoid Gregson Street. Use Duke Street instead. It’s literally one block over and doesn't have a predatory bridge waiting for you.
The 11-foot-8 bridge isn't going anywhere. Even if they raised it another foot, someone, somewhere, would find a way to hit it. It’s not just a bridge anymore; it’s a lesson in physics that refuses to be ignored.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Check your rental agreement: Before you drive a moving truck, verify if "overhead collisions" are covered by your insurance.
- Measure your vehicle: Physically check the height of any roof-mounted gear (bikes, AC units, cargo boxes) before passing under old urban overpasses.
- Plan your route: Use tools like the Hammer app or SmartTruckRoute to identify low-clearance obstacles before you start your trip.