Call to reflect on reflective ‘aids’
Marlow: Cars were hitting reflectors on bridge bollards
Fresh criticisms have been levelled against road infrastructure that exists to stop overly heavy vehicles from going over Marlow Bridge.
The bridge has been the site of much controversy over the past few years.
Buckinghamshire’s Council has been trying to get drivers to stick to the three tonne weight restrictions – for fear of damage to the historic bridge.
Bollards were installed in 2021 to narrow the road but these were lamblasted, with drivers arguing these made the bridge too narrow and were damaging their cars.
Now, a further addition to the poorly received bollards has fetched a fresh wave of criticism, forcing Bucks council to backtrack.
The addition was only some reflectors – but a Maidenhead man hit out at the ‘draconian, ill-conceived hazard’.
“The 30cm reflectors [were] smack bang in line with vehicles’ side mirrors,” said Will Loyal.
“If it’s a small sports car, you’re in for it. My car is a normal saloon car and there’s about half an inch either side.
“These are cars within the weight limit. It defeats the whole purpose of what they’re doing.”
He noted that one reflector on the Bisham side of the bridge had already been knocked off, within five days of it having been installed.
He said drivers were having to ‘crawl past’, stopping traffic flow.
Buckinghamshire Council said these ‘driver alignment markers’ were installed on March 24 but were removed on March 29.
It was part of a trial aimed at ‘assisting motorists in navigating the width restrictions.’
Councillor Steven Broadbent, Buckinghamshire’s cabinet member for transport, said:
“This initiative was implemented in response to feedback from drivers who reported difficulty in maintaining a clear line of sight to the bollards when approaching the restrictions.
“The flexible markers are intended to improve the line of sight, to enable motorists to align their vehicles through the width restrictions, with the aim of reducing accidental impacts with the bollards.
“The markers were removed after some members of the public stated that their wing mirrors were striking them – despite the width offering adequate clearance for vehicles of the appropriate size.”
To address this issue, the markers will now be trimmed and reinstalled onto the bollards.
“We remain committed to safeguarding the condition of Marlow Suspension Bridge,” said Cllr Broadbent.