"Bridge Subject to Crosswinds"

[Gauche1968]

I had the occasion to see this sign a few times recently before crossing some harrowing bridge spans. First,what does it mean exactly? Are there bridges NOT subject to crosswinds? How much concern should this sign cause us in our Vanagons? Are there any effective counter measures? Open the windows, etc.?

I've seen a semi in the water once. Not a pleasant sight to behold.
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1984 Vanagon GL
1984 Vanagon Westy

[Wildthings]

Some bridges are in windier areas than others such as over coastal rivers, plus the higher you get above the ground surface the higher the wind speed. Even what seem like farily protected bridges, such as the new one below Hoover Dam can have nasty winds at times due to localized effects.

You don't need to open the windows or anything. Just be aware and be prepared to counter steer if necessary. I suspect most wind related accidents happen from people getting caught off guard thus reacting late and way over correcting.

For the most part bridges aren't much different from driving in and out of road cuts, which can alternately block and funnel the winds.

[windnsea]

1. Covered bridges are subject to cross-winds too, but usually get destroyed by fire or floods!

2. In the late 1980's, in Seattle, I was driving over the I-90 floating bridge in my vanagon an was blown over 3 lanes by a strong gust of wind! About an hour later the adjacent floating bridge sections which were under reconstruction sank due to flooding caused by wind generated waves on Lake Washington.

3. Also, "Bridge freezes before the roadway." How true!! Simple thermodynamics!

4. The original Tacoma Narrows bridge was literally destroyed by crosswinds as it's center suspended sections undulated and were thrown into the channel!

[IdahoDoug]

The best piece of advice would be to slow your vehicle speed in the presence of crosswind instability. The slower speed makes you safer and more able to react correctly to a sudden lateral shove. A tall profile vehicle like the Vanagon is more affected by these conditions than a sedan, wagon, coupe, etc. I found my Syncro to be surprisingly stable in wind, but I still slow down in my SUVs, and I have also been pushed 2 lanes over in a Fiat X1/9 - about as small a side profile as you can find. So, slow down a bit would be the best advice I could muster. No surprise there.

DougM
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1987 2WD Wolfsburg Vanagon Weekender "Mango", two fully locked 80 Series LandCruisers. 2017 Subaru Outback boxer. 1990 Audi 90 Quattro 20V with rear locking differential, 1990 burgundy parts Vanagon. 1984 Porsche 944, 1988 Toyota Supra 5 speed targa, 2002 BMW 325iX, 1982 Toyota Sunrader

[CaptTurbo]

I can remember my old '73 Bay window bus swapping lanes one me in the Appellation mountain passes. A blast of wind would really move that thing around. My '87 tin top Syncro has much better manners with side winds. Still, when traveling such areas I try to remain alert for side winds.

[Type17]

to give yourself the best chances of getting to the other end of the bridge pucker free, check the condition of your balljoints, tie rod ends, and all front suspension bushings. on my 84 i had done everything but the rack bushings and tie rod ends, night and day difference after doing those in high wind areas.

but as others have said, just slow it down and drive calmly. dont over-react to the wind and you should be fine.

[RainierSyncro]

Slowing it down is good, but you don't know to slow it down until after the first gust which could put you way out of position.

The I-90 bridge over the Columbia river at Vantage, WA is really nasty. My van got pushed within inches of the guardrail without warning.

[Vanagon Nut]

I don't recall if there was a warning sign or not, but that dang bridge to Astoria OR .....

When crossing that bridge, and it's really windy, I just slow the h**l down. If people behind me don't like it, too bad.

That said, i keep my bus in good shape and have yet to be blown over to the next lane. (fingers crossed)

Neil.

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1981 Westy DIY 15º ABA

1988 West DIY 50º ABA

VE7TBN

[Jake de Villiers]

[Wildthings]

The bridges over the river north of Charleston, SC can be a douzy as well. Like wise the Mackinac Bridge and the Sault Ste Marie Bridge in Michigan. All high and exposed.

[IdahoDoug]

Disagree on slowing down later. Speed and angular movement from wind are a dangerous combo. Slow in advance of a potential sideways push gives a better chance of dealing safely with it.
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1987 2WD Wolfsburg Vanagon Weekender "Mango", two fully locked 80 Series LandCruisers. 2017 Subaru Outback boxer. 1990 Audi 90 Quattro 20V with rear locking differential, 1990 burgundy parts Vanagon. 1984 Porsche 944, 1988 Toyota Supra 5 speed targa, 2002 BMW 325iX, 1982 Toyota Sunrader

[Tom Powell]

Should I set the parking brake in the event of a tornado?

Aloha
tp

[Wildthings]

[Type17]

[Gauche1968]

Hit the Chesapeake Bay Bridge today over and back in official wind warning conditions. THAT WAS FUN! 😌
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1984 Vanagon GL
1984 Vanagon Westy

[ThankYouJerry]

[[email protected]]

I lived in Chicago in 1984. There was a 70 mph wind one day. I came across a Geo Metro on the wrong side of the guard rail, between the guard rail and the chain link fence of the park. The car was completely unscuffed, there were no gaps in the guardrail, there were no gaps in the chain link fence. I had stopped to ask how the hell he managed to get the car there. The driver was not particularly shaken although thoroughly perplexed about how to get out of the situation. He had been driving on LakeShore drive one moment and on the wrong side of the guardrail the next. No other possible answer the wind had picked up the car clean over the guardrail and gently deposited it on the other side.

[Abscate]

Most front engine cars have the aerodynamic center of effort (ACOE) behind the center of gravity of the car. When the wind blows, the car pivots into the wind, which is "self correcting" the rear engine ACVW family has the ACOE in front of the COG, which means the wind blast turns you away from the wind, which makes you feel it much more.
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.ssS!

[rcook52459]

had a 68 camper and was blown across 3 lanes of the glenn Jackson(I-205) bridge.luckily it was a sunday morning and not much traffic.been across Astoria bridge many times and was never hit by wind like I was on 205 bridge.real cautious about bridges now,even in my vanagon.newport bridge on the coast gets some mean gusts of wind.usually can't go more than 25 mph cause of traffic.i pucker up every time I cross bridges now
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85 westy tiico conversion.auto trans triumph TR250 1980 Suzuki GS1000l

[Wildthings]