A bridge restriction too far?
Marlow: Drivers say bollards to stop HGVs are damaging normal-sized vehicles
Drivers have hit out at new bollards on Marlow Bridge which have caused some motorists’ vehicles to sustain hundreds of pounds worth of damage.
Over the February half-term, Buckinghamshire Council carried out work on the bollards, making the distance between them smaller after a spate of incidents involving heavy vehicles crossing the structure.
But concerns have been raised that the space between them – now measuring just over 2,000mm – is not enabling normal-sized vehicles to squeeze through.
Over recent years, Marlow Bridge has seen HGV drivers
use it as a diversion despite weight restriction signs, and the work was the next step in plans to ensure this does not happen again.
However nearby resident John Francis, who drives a saloon Audi A4, has hit out at the bollards after he scraped them with his vehicle, causing £600 worth of damage.
He claims that they disappear from the drivers’ view due to their low height, making it difficult to align your car, and has also asked questions as to why the deterrents have been placed on the exit from the bridge.
John has also observed the bollards up-close, claiming that paint and scratch marks are visible on them after only a few weeks in place.
“Why put them on the exits?” John said. “On both the exit bollards, these are the ones that have clearly taken the most damage.”
He added: “You can understand that they are trying to keep larger vehicles off. But it is more of a challenge, rather than a help.
“The bollards are tucked down low and you lose sight of them when you are trying to get the alignment right.
“A lot of people have clearly had their vehicles damaged.”
Buckinghamshire Council said last month that ANPR cameras could be installed to help deter overweight vehicles from crossing the bridge.
The authority also urged people to drive with ‘due care and attention’ to avoid colliding with the new bollards.
It was not available for further comment at the time of going to press.