Sept. 1 is traditionally the busiest moving day of the year in Boston, and the Department of Conservation and Recreation and the State Police are reminding college students and their parents not to drive overheight moving trucks on Storrow Drive, Memorial Drive, and Soldiers Field Road.
The roads, which hug the Charles River, have numerous low bridges and traffic is subject to vehicle height restrictions. Despite the restrictions and posted signs, there have been at least 25 recorded height restriction-based incidents on the roads since 2007 with a concentration around college move-in and move-out dates, according to DCR.
“Every year at this time our troopers respond to numerous incidents of overheight trucks striking bridges and signs on the river roads,” Massachusetts State Police Colonel Richard McKeon said in a statement. “Incoming students and their families should make sure to observe posted height restrictions. Please be mindful that using GPS systems alone may not be foolproof. Please observe the signs bearing height restrictions posted on the roads and bridges.”
State officials said they have asked colleges and universities to alert their students to the restrictions and requested that box truck rental companies remind customers of them as well. DCR, MSP and the Department of Transportation will coordinate additional signage in the Greater Boston area and use social media outreach to remind the general public of the height restrictions as well.
Students returning to the city on or around Sept. 1 can also expect temporary parking restrictions in some neighborhoods. Roadside signs bearing the message, “No Parking September 1 6:00AM-6:00PM. Permitted Drop Off Only” are expected to be placed around the city within a week of Sept. 1 and “No Parking” signs will be posted at least 48 hours in advance.
Storrow Drive (Courtesy of Flickr) 
