US Low Clearance POI

I've totally reworked the Low Underpasses file and I know that you'll find it in much better shape than originally posted.

There may still be some locational or height errors and I welcome your input on those.

Also, please feel free to post new locations.

When Submitting Corrections, please include both the old information along with the corrected information.

Original Info
Ex. -000.00000, 00.00000 12'6 0n Rt 00 under Girdered Bridge

New info - Clearance update
Ex. -000.00000, 00.00000 12'10 0n Rt 00 under Girdered Bridge

When submitting new locations, please include the coordinates and clearance type information.

Ex. -000.00000, 00.00000 12'6 0n Rt 00 under Girdered Bridge

Thanks,
Driven1

How much warning do we get before getting to the low overpass etc ? Is there any way to set it up to avoid that roadway?
Thanks
Wayne

Not sure about how this file is set up, but when loading any file via POI Loader 2.4.0.1 (beta) in manual mode, you can set the proximity alert distance that you want.

No, you can't set it up to avoid POIs

The Low Clearance POI is not set up with the Alert feature turned on. I left this up to the user. There are those who don't use or have the ability to use the feature so I figured it best to leave it out and let those who DO want it, to use POI Loader's manual mode to set it up. Also, remember that the Alert Feature is based on speed, not distance.

The ability to avoid or re-route around low clearance areas altogether would depend on the capabilities of the Unit or Software you're using. To my knowledge, there are no units that have this capability yet related to user created or imported datasets. I could be totally wrong on that point as well. ;} It is possible to re-route in software based mapping programs but again, when it comes to large vehicles, one must be careful of restricted usage highways, streets, etc.

Bottom line? When operating large, high vehicles, STUDY and PLAN your route carefully BEFORE leaving! The Low Clearance POI is a GUIDE ONLY for trip planning purposes and not all inclusive or 100% accurate.

Where do we load those files ?

I have a Nuvi 350 and loaded the POI loader to my computer but every files I tried it say wrong format even for .csv files ????

I would love to have low bridges files to my GPS as i will start driving a truck soon.

Thank you.

Would you have a warning sound available yet??

I made a Low Clearance Warning MP3 file and sent it to Miss Poi.

I stress the point of NOT using the US Low Underpass Clearances file as a warning system! It should be used as a trip planning tool only!

Also, again, I take no responsibility for the use of this file nor guarantee its accuracy or completeness.

Driven1

Would it be possible to post a link to this POI?
I can't seem to find it.

Thanks

I have linked the page now, you can find the link in the first part of the thread.

Miss POI

Thank you for the link!

I was recently driving on 61 in Ohio on my way to Norwalk and my Low clearance POI said that a 10' 10" bridge was a head. There were no signs marking the bridge and my 13' 6" truck was able to get under it. Where did you get your data from?

See top of page

Original Info
-82.667829,41.054762,"10' 10"" Clear"
New info - Clearance update
-82.667829,41.054762,"Unmarked bridge 13' 6"" can fit under"

I have made a correction to that file and posted a note linking back to this discussion for more details.

Miss POI

Is this file essentially the same as the one on the Discovery Owners web site?

Are the AITA web site locations included? If not should they be included? They are not included in the Discovery Owners web site file-ie the 13'2" file.

Numerous files from across the web were referenced in the creation of this file including some from Discovery Owners. The Motor Carrier's Road Atlas was also referenced in the creation of the file. I'm not aware of AITA (America's Independent Truckers' Association?)Low Clearance files. If I should be, please point me to them. (Musta' missed those somewhere )

Not too long after the file was made available here, it was shown by users to have numerous locational and height deficiencies. I then converted the file to KML and went over it line by line in Google Earth and corrected what needed correction or more exact location placements. Heights if wrong will still need to be user submissions for correction. All heights associated with objects listed in the MCRA are listed as such in the file where it was possible to verify the object. Any heights listed at locations from sources other than the MCRA are unverifiable by me personally and will require user submissions if incorrect.

So, in essence, this file is not just a copy or compilation of others. It is a beast all its own.

I still encourage submission of corrections, new locations, or other information sources to keep the file as up to date, accurate, and complete as possible.

I'll also continue to stress the point that this file is to be used as a reference ONLY. Certainly NOT ANY SORT OF WARNING SYSTEM. Nor will I be held responsible for any damage, injury, or loss of life due to its use.

Their list of low clearances can be found at http://www.aitaonline.com/Info/Low%20Clearances.html.

I have emailed them to see if they have and will share a soft copy that could help to make POIs and will post any reply.

Thanks for your effort in creating the POI file.

I looked at the current listings at the link you provided and I can tell you it's going to be a tough nut to crack. I ran into the same difficulty with the MCRA. The problem? Mile Markers. I'll hunt around and see if there's some info out there to convert them to coordinates.

If anyone on the site knows of a good way to get mile marker coordintates, please let me know.

Thanks,
Driven1

When I first looked at the file from the LA area I just knew there must be a lot more locations in Southern CA. After all the nearest one is Tahoe and then next one East of Phoenix. Not being critical at all as Driven1 qualified a more Eastern orientation. Oh well you take what you can get and appreciate the effort.

Then 2 days ago I've headed down 101 in Santa Barbara and there right at exit 95 is a big sign announcing a clearance of 12' 0". Err Do I need to qualify that as in CA? OK, just having fun. No way was I taking that ramp with my motor home but asked DW to note it in the log. And now with the full power of Google Satellite and MapSource here is the location:

-119.65884 34.4227 12' 0" at 101 Santa Barbara, CA SB Exit 95

I'll let the more experienced folks verify and sort out the details!

Be safe!

Just to follow up, no response to my email.

a colleague of mine showed me a poi file on his garmin that I believe had bridge names or other identifying features besides co-ordinates. it also look more in depth for tri- state area then this poi. anybody driving in nyc use this poi and if so, how does your garmin take co-ordinates and translate them into useful info? thanks for any help. geo

Geosafaree, if you could get a copy of your friend's bridge file and e-mail it to me that would be great! As for the coordinates, the coordinates only plot the location on the gps screen. The information displayed about that location comes from the name and comment fields within the file.

Which leads me to...

A bit of a snafu has occured with the Low Clearance file and was recently brought to my attention by a user who had just downloaded it. The one that is currently available is the 1st incarnation of the file that was miserably inaccurate (my bad). I painstakingly corrected the file and reuploaded it on 3/17/07. Since then I've had a major hard drive crash and no longer have the corrected file available.

If anyone has a copy of the updated file, which would have been available between 3/17/07 and 4/1/08, please e-mail me. This file will have the words verified, unknown, or MCRA in each line. As I recall, I put those in a comments field but they could be at the end of the info in the name field. The 1st incarnation of the file doesn't have any of that info.

In the meantime, I've edited the Low Clearance POI page to reflect the problem. I've saved the original text of the page and will put it back up when the problem has been resolved.

Thanks folks!

Never updated for some reason. Either I posted the wrong file or something happened on upload of the file and it didn't update on the site.

As I can, I'll start from scratch and redo the entire POI. Even though the one that is up right now is off locationally in some spots it is still useful as a general planning tool, which is what the poi was meant to be anyway. I still can't believe it went all of this time without being noticed!

So for those of you who've looked to see if you have the updated file, thanks for looking even though it never existed on the site.

I also apologize to those who thought they were using a relatively accurate file all this time. I guarantee that the next file will be as accurate and complete as I can possibly make it.

Driven1

Looking forward to the new file.

Hi Driven1 - Thanks for ALL your work on this file, past and present.

As it's a few months since the last thread, just wondering how close you are to the revised file.

I'm a newbie as well so my question of the use of the POI's is: if we have a route on our GPS (Garmin C340), do the alerts for the low bridges sound automatically or do we have to go into the system to my locations then select custom POI and select the low bridges file? When I go back to the route map, does the POI stay activated or do we need to go through the system again? Hope that makes sense.

Thanks

RVchurchesUSA

Once loaded with POILoader in manual mode and assigned an alert distance, you will get an alert approaching a location as long as the unit is on... your unit doesn't have to be following a specific route or require any extra input from you as you drive along.

There is a thread that states the max distance that can be set is 9,999 yds or over 5.5 mi.

If you are curious if there are any low bridges ahead, then you would do as you mention above. That won't effect your programmed alert.

I've had some offline emails with Driven1 and I'm sure he'll get a new file.

For anyone new to this thread: If you have the older more complete file Driven1 would like a copy.

I can't seem to get a Low Bridge Icon to come up on my 660

Are you placing the BMP in the same folder as the Custom POI file on your computer?

Are you renaming the files so that they are identical except for the file extension?

Have you double checked that you don't have double file extensions on your file?

Are you zoomed in close enough on your GPS unit?

It seems that the icon is just a dot. It should be a sign.

Did you rename the files so that they are the same except for the file extension?

Did you place the icon and the POI file in the same folder on your computer?

Did you double (triple) check to ensure that you don't have double file extensions (ie bridge.bmp.bmp) which will cause it not to load.

Will recheck again.. I checked and rechecked and all I get for a Icon is a little dot.

What are the filenames of the Custom POI file and the BMP file?

I feel like a fool. There was just a little space I did not see, as soon as I closed the space it was fine. I guess thats how we learn.

Glad you got it figured out. Stuff like that is easy to miss, so don't feel bad.

Thanks for all the free advice. I did the fly on the wall thing and learned from your exchanges with Steve620.

I’m a newbie to all this. Just purchased a Nuvi 880, (Very Nice Tool-Toy), two weeks ago and still learning how to use these POI scv files.

I’m guessing from your posts that I would need to re-name any MP3 I wanted to use to read ‘Exactly’ the same as the scv & Icon files (except for the file extension).
i.e.
Beer Store.scv-------|
Beer Store.bmp------|----| Folder Name: Beer Store
Beer Store.mp3------|

Right?

Another question, the gpx files – Would I need to retype the whole file then save as an scv to work on the Nuvi 880??

Thanks
Palestar

Not scv.... i.e. Beer Store.csv... Other than that yes...

The i.e was meant to mean 'for example' and not to be part of the file name. Sorry if I wasn't clear on that.

My intent was to do what you just said.

xxx.scv
xxx.bmp
xxx.mp3
And the folder name would be xxx

Thanks again
Palestar

What's the current state of this file? Just curious, not trying to pester...

This seems to be a VERY needed thing for people (like me) who tow a tall RV around the country. There only seem to be paper solutions for this problem as best as I can tell so far.

I test drove the file this weekend and found two bridges around here (central NJ secondary roads) missing... but didn't manage to snag coordinates for them. I will try to do better in helping with this in the future.

THANKS! for the work in compiling and checking!

I'm not trying to push/ or be a pest either! But, I'm in the same boat as davelinde. I just ordered/upgraded to the nuvi 680 (discontinued unit, to be able to still have the TRUCK route preference) and I'm VERY interested in this POI to use as a tool for my side business. I pick up/deliver all sorts of RV's, as well as my own 12' 11" 5th wheel. I'm generally in the North East area notorious for Low clearances. I also use the Rand Mcnally Motor Carrier road atlas as a reference.

I guess my question is, Is the current POI file OK to use as it is now? Or should I wait for a corrected NEW file? Not to push but, any progress on how long that may be?

I also THANK YOU Very much for doing all this work putting together & maintaining this WELL NEEDED POI!!!!

This was the first POI I loaded since it's something I'm concerned about. I had it on my GPS driving a car under a few low bridges in Plainfield, NJ and Somerset, NJ and was wondering if I had the alerts set up at all... Then I forgot about it.

This weekend we made the trek from NJ to FL towing our new taller FW and I thought my wife was going to have a heart attack in Washington DC. We were on one of the ring roads near DC and the alert went off. I was surrounded by truck and on a highway so we slowed down and just looked around. No idea what tripped it. Then today near Jacksonville FL on 95 we got two more alerts.

Is this an issue with the file accuracy? Or maybe the way I loaded it? Or maybe the GPS capability? In Jacksonville it was possible that we were actually driving OVER a low clearance on a road that went below us.

No matter - I'd rather be warned too often then smash my RV once. If this isn't the ultimate POI to use and contribute to I hope to find it someday, it's needed.

Based upon what you've posted, the most likely scenario is that you were driving on top of a low clearance overpass.

Several times I've actually seen red light cameras near the freeway and the alert went off. Low clearance overpass would be the same. If it's close in any direction the alert goes off.

From a earlier post.

Is this an issue with the file accuracy? Or maybe the way I loaded it? Or maybe the GPS capability? In Jacksonville it was possible that we were actually driving OVER a low clearance on a road that went below us.

I looked at them and both of those on I95 going thru Jacksonville is just that, The one further north isnt there anymore due to the construction on I 95 and then the one is a old one that was there from years ago before they built the new bridge.

Schoharie, New York, lat. N42 39.954 Lon. W74 19.699 Schohaire Hill rd. Country Rd.1a has a bridge with a hight clearance of 12'. Must be because I went under it with my RV which I measured at 12' and I still have a roof on it!!!!!!!!

Often the clearance is at one or both sides of the road. This could be due to a rounded construction or a flat construction that is not level. Not that I'd advise moving over a lane and finding the hard way that there is limited clearance.

One very interesting tunnel is the one East of Mount Zion National Park. The first time I wanted to travel West through the tunnel I could not get complete information on the tunnel. So we went South and around to the park. The tunnel is plenty high in the center and large vehicles (RVs, busses, etc) get a permit and they stop traffic coming from the other direction and then you drive down the center of the tunnel. Driving East they stopped us to wait for the traffic to clear. A number of people thanked us because we were all taking pictures from the area that you can't otherwise stop.

In truckers atlas has low clearances listed too. I know that the aforementioned poi file is incorrect. I haven't changed data because most are higher than what it says it should be. I drive tour buses and know of one not listed is 11'-0". underpass in Georgetown, DC. I'll keep a better list as I go.

Looking to get my dad a gps and he needs the low clearance poi feature. is this download ready yet if not can some one point me in a direction to get it on the unit before I give it to him....he is a technology know nothing!

I know this may be a loaded question, but how complete is this POI? I drive from NY to FL and have a high (13'8") boat. I was going to purchase the CoPilot but it only operates in "truck" mode. I am only concerned with low bridges so I was thinking that I could just get a loaded POI to warn me of bridges. Will this POI tell you the height of every bridge approaching?