'Peace Street Peeler': What will it take to make a Raleigh bridge safer?

Another truck has hit Raleigh's notorious Peace Street railroad bridge, adding to a growing list of crashes at an overpass so well known that many drivers have given it a nickname: the "Can-opener."

The latest collision marks the third truck to become lodged beneath the bridge in less than a week, renewing questions about why the crashes continue despite multiple warning signs leading to the low-clearance crossing.

The bridge, owned by Norfolk Southern, carries railroad tracks over Peace Street near Capital Boulevard and West Street, just northwest of downtown Raleigh.

For years, truck drivers have misjudged the bridge's clearance, leaving vehicles wedged beneath the overpass with roofs peeled back and traffic backed up for hours. The recurring crashes have become so common that Google Maps labels the crossing "The Peace Street Peeler."

The recent string of collisions is only the latest chapter in a pattern WRAL has documented for years.

In December 2018, an 18-wheeler became lodged beneath the bridge. Another tractor-trailer struck the overpass during the morning commute in June 2022. In May 2023, a beer truck failed to clear the bridge. A box truck was damaged in November 2025 after becoming stuck beneath the overpass.

Earlier this month, a large truck became wedged under the bridge before crews freed it, and days later another crash made it the third truck to hit the bridge within one week.

Raleigh Police Department told WRAL thirteen crashes with the bridge within the past 5 years. Of those, 10 were considered "inattention or disregarded other traffic signals as a reason".

Despite the bridge's reputation, drivers approaching the overpass encounter multiple low-clearance warning signs before reaching it.

The repeated crashes have prompted questions about whether additional safety measures could help prevent future collisions.

WRAL reached out to Norfolk Southern and the Raleigh City Council asking whether the bridge has been identified as an ongoing safety concern, whether additional warning systems or other improvements have been discussed and whether more permanent solutions are being considered following the recent series of crashes.

In response, a spokesperson for Norfolk Southern said safety is their top priority for both the public and our railroad operations, while they referenced the clearly marked vertical clearance for motorists.