‘Wise up’ plea at Britain’s most bashed bridge
RAIL bosses urged motorists to “wise up and size up” after the year’s most bashed bridge was struck for a 15th time.
The most recent prang, on October 3, saw a van wedged underneath the wrought iron and brick bridge in Stonea, Cambs, which was built in 1895.
It is the 15th recorded crash there this year but Andrew Swinden, who runs the nearby Golden Lion pub, says there have been far more.
He said: “We’re constantly going out to try and help people. More importantly, somebody is going to get killed.”
The bridge, over the B1098 Sixteen Foot Bank road, has been hit by vans, high trailers and caravans, some of which have become stuck underneath.
On July 9 a trailer carrying machinery became stuck while being pulled by a pick-up truck.
With a height restriction of only 7ft, anything larger than a standard car is at risk. Meliha Duymaz of Network Rail said: “Irresponsible drivers are causing unnecessary disruption to railway and road users.
“This can be avoided if drivers take the time to size up their vehicle and anything they may be towing before they set out.”
Britain’s most beaten-up bridge overall is thought to be on the A142 Stuntney Road in Ely, Cambs – a 30-minute drive from Stonea. It has been hit nearly 120 times since 2009.