Problematic Lansing Bridge Destroys Record Number Of Trucks In 2025

Last year, the 146th Avenue bridge on US-131 southbound was struck three times, each time causing damage. It was so damaged that it was closed for the remainder of 2025 and is still closed as of the time of writing in 2026. From afar, it's astounding to think one bridge could get hit three times in the same year.

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But there is a bridge in Lansing that looks at the 146th Ave. bridge and laughs because it is hit in the double digits each year and still keeps on kicking, as if nothing happened. The only indicator is that the bridge shows signs of a collision at the underpass mouth. Why do I say mouth? Well...

Pennsylvania Ave. Bridge In Lansing, AKA Big Penny

Meet "Big Penny, the truck-eating bridge" on Pennsylvania Ave. in Lansing, a railroad bridge whose clearance stands at a below-average 12 feet, causing drivers who are too tall to ram into the bridge to get peeled open like a sardine tin or jammed underneath. Even if the car is below 12 feet, the bridge is known for flooding and causing problems for smaller cars.

It happens so frequently that community members have given the bridge eyes and a mouth, and a sign near the bridge keeps a running tally of how many "Too Tall Trucks" (trucks with too-tall loads) have collided with the bridge since 2004.

How Many Times Was The Bridge Hit In 2025?

STUPID-Lansing runs the Facebook page that tracks Penny's "munches", and if their scoreboard is correct, there have been 106 collisions since 2004. But more importantly, 2025 was a record-setting year with 27 trucks crashing into the bridge. This beats the previous record of 26, set in 2024.

Why Do So Many People Crash Into the Bridge?

Most modern bridges have a minimum height of 14 feet, and since most truck trailers are ~13.5 feet, there usually isn't a problem with trucks going under a bridge. However, many older bridges, like this one built in 1928, are known for having lower clearances than the standard. Since bridges like these are uncommon, most drivers don't expect to encounter one.

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However, Lansing does everything it can to raise awareness among truckers. There are multiple signs, flashing lights, and Big Penny's chompers, all of which serve as warnings to truckers. But if they don't notice these signals, it's on them, and they can expect a ticket in their future.

Replacing the bridge is the natural next step to ensure this happens, but because it serves both the railway and an important road in the region, replacing it would be difficult. But since record numbers of drivers have used the bridge in recent years, it's clear this is only getting worse.