Press Release  State Officials Remind Public of Roadway Height Restrictions For “Move-In Day”

Boston — State officials from the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR), Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT), and Massachusetts State Police (MSP) are reminding college students, residents, and others of height restrictions along several parkways in the Greater Boston area as they move-in to residence halls, apartments, and other living spaces. These parkways include Storrow Drive and Soldiers Field Road in the City of Boston, and Memorial Drive in the City of Cambridge, which are restricted to “cars only” and have height restrictions as low as nine feet in some locations. Moving trucks, box trucks, and moving vans will exceed this height limit and drivers of these vehicles should seek alternate routes. 

“We want everyone to be as safe as possible as students return to the Boston area to move into their housing for the coming school year,” said Department of Conservation and Recreation Commissioner Doug Rice. “When renting moving vehicles, drivers should confirm roadway height restrictions and plan routes ahead of time to ensure a smooth moving experience and to minimize injuries and structural damage to our roadways.” 

“MassDOT encourages drivers to check the posted heights of overhead structures when approaching them and plan routes ahead of time to avoid roadways known for low clearance,” said Secretary and CEO of Transportation Jamey Tesler. “Move-in weekend in particular is a time before the start of school when we see an increase in overheight vehicle crashes – avoidable incidents which can be prevented if drivers travel at a safe speed and read roadway signs.”  

Massachusetts State Police Troopers respond to multiple instances of trucks that either become stuck under bridges on the river roads and other state parkways in Boston, Cambridge, and surrounding areas, or whose drivers realize they will not fit and need to be slowly backed out of the overpass. State Police urge anyone renting a truck for their college move to check whether bridges on their route of travel can accommodate the height of their vehicle, to seek alternative routes if not, and to observe height information on posted signage and electronic message boards.   

“The instances of bridge strikes by overheight rental trucks each fall is as preventable as it is predictable. Please make sure to observe and obey the signs about height clearance on DCR roads,” said Massachusetts State Police Superintendent Colonel Christopher Mason. “We wish you a safe and enjoyable fall semester, and once on campus, please remember to call 911 immediately for any public safety threat.”  

Leading up to “Move­-In Day”, which is Thursday, September 1, 2022, state agencies have been in the process of positioning increased signage throughout the area, which include variable message boards (VMBs) at various entry points along the parkways warning of height restrictions, and no parking signs where appropriate. DCR is also in the process of conducting active outreach to truck rental companies, moving companies, and educational institutions, and is sharing information to raise awareness through its social media channels. 

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