This Railroad Bridge in Augusta Has Earned the Name ‘The Can Opener’

Augusta has a railroad bridge that spans Water Street, where drivers seem to ignore the low clearance signs, giving it the name "The Can Opener."

History of the Can Opener

This rail bridge on Water Street used to carry the Maine Central Railroad over what was called the Back Road. It ran between Waterville and Portland in the days when rail traffic was much higher than it is today.

The other route was the Lower Road, which is still in use. As more and more industrial areas that used freight delivery from the Maine Central closed operations, the Back Road became redundant. The Can Opener Bridge is still in place with no rail traffic in decades.

Here's a video of what the bridge looks like since rail traffic ended.

12'9"

The bridge is marked in several locations, giving plenty of warning time for vehicles taller than 12 feet 9 inches. I have no idea why these drivers can't figure out that their truck won't fit under the bridge, but those who challenge it will lose and end up ripping the roof off their trailer, or worse.

READ MORE: Train Speeds Are Increasing Through Waterville, Maine

Hit Four Times Within a Year

According to the Kennebec Journal, the Can Opener bridge was hit on four different dates within a year: Nov 14, 2011, Jan 11, 2012, Feb 14, 2012, and July 19, 2012. That was over a decade and more warning signs have been put up, but overweight vehicles are still being ripped open.

Some have said that since the rail bridge isn't in use anymore that it should be removed, but the state of Maine can't do that. They maintain the bridge in case rail traffic returns to the Back Road with the current operator, CSX. So far, though, that doesn't seem likely.