Truck-Eating Bridge

mewissa (Atlas Obscura User)

Known to local residents as “The Truck-Eating Bridge,” this pedestrian overpass tends to stop trucks in their tracks, on what seems like a weekly basis. The bridge’s clearance is only 11’6”, and doesn’t appear to provide enough forewarning for oncoming traffic. (Much like the also-famous “Can-Opener” in Durham, North Carolina.)

According to Google Maps, the Truck-Eating Bridge is a tourist attraction, complete with a community-derived collection of eaten-truck sightings and 29 five-star reviews at the time of this writing.

The Cross-Kirkland Corridor that passes over the bridge is now a 5.75-mile crushed gravel trail for cyclists and pedestrians in Kirkland. It was originally part of the 42-mile Eastside Rail Corridor, developed in the early 1900s. The bridge’s history as a hefty, train-supporting bridge is probably what has kept it intact today, despite its frequent munching on unsuspecting vehicles. No, this statement was not verified by any architects.

There are two ways to visit the Truck-Eating Bridge: across the top on the Cross-Kirkland Corridor by foot or bike, or down Kirkland Way itself. But if you choose the latter, maybe leave the freight truck at home.

Know Before You Go

The safest way to visit is to use the street parking around 2nd Avenue and 10th Street, and then taking the pedestrian path. There are stairs that go up to the Cross-Kirkland Corridor, where you can walk across the bridge. One can also continue on the street-level path to view it from beneath. Be safe!