Another bridge strike

[SteelCamel]

But that's in the middle of a pedestrianised area!
No vehicle should be there (not even my bike between 10 and 4 unless I'm pushing it.)
Further fact checking shows this to be a 2013 event!

It appears to be perfectly legal for lorries loading in the pedestrianised area to enter via Fitzroy Street at any time. Presumably they're supposed to leave via the same route, as there are bollards on the other roads. Burleigh St is clearly not designed for vehicles, but I can't see any sign prohibiting lorries which have legally entered Fitzroy St to load continuing onto Burleigh St.

[JackieRoads]

Scouring the news today and a bridge strike happened in Willsbridge, Bristol today.

Info on Bristol Post.

[owen b]

Double decker bus in Luton this morning : https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-b ... s-64151206

[JackieRoads]

Double decker bus in Luton this morning : https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-b ... s-64151206

Did the driver turn a blind eye to the height limit?

[owen b]

Double decker bus in Luton this morning : https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-b ... s-64151206

Did the driver turn a blind eye to the height limit?

I know nothing more than is in the BBC report.

[Vierwielen]

It happened here. The signage shows a 4 metre/13 ft height limit, but if you look on the other side, the height limit signs are accompanied by "no entry" (apart from buses) on the two roads leading off on either side.

[owen b]

It happened here. The signage shows a 4 metre/13 ft height limit, but if you look on the other side, the height limit signs are accompanied by "no entry" (apart from buses) on the two roads leading off on either side.

Yes. Although I don't know the specifics of the incident, I do know that railway bridge very well. On one side is a lights controlled crossroads on the Luton inner ring road, on the other side is a lights controlled crossroads with the busway which runs between the two main railway stations, and the under bridge is a main route to The Mall car park. It's a busy part of town and the railway under bridge is a bottleneck, although the completion of the inner ring road a few years ago has made other routes more attractive for some traffic.

[baroudeur]

It happened here. The signage shows a 4 metre/13 ft height limit, but if you look on the other side, the height limit signs are accompanied by "no entry" (apart from buses) on the two roads leading off on either side.

Yes. Although I don't know the specifics of the incident, I do know that railway bridge very well. On one side is a lights controlled crossroads on the Luton inner ring road, on the other side is a lights controlled crossroads with the busway which runs between the two main railway stations, and the under bridge is a main route to The Mall car park. It's a busy part of town and the railway under bridge is a bottleneck, although the completion of the inner ring road a few years ago has made other routes more attractive for some traffic.

I know that bridge extremely well being a Lutonian and having worked for the BE's Highways Dept back in the day. It was hit on a regular basis.

There is now only one railway station in Luton Although I can remember the long demolished second station The No Entry sign is at the entry to the busway opposite Station Road and the height restriction relates to a bridge further down the busway. Station Road busway traffic can also turn left or right onto Hitchin Road which was (still is?) the A505.

Interestingly, the bus in the picture appears to have no damage to the front edge of the roof

[owen b]

It happened here. The signage shows a 4 metre/13 ft height limit, but if you look on the other side, the height limit signs are accompanied by "no entry" (apart from buses) on the two roads leading off on either side.

Yes. Although I don't know the specifics of the incident, I do know that railway bridge very well. On one side is a lights controlled crossroads on the Luton inner ring road, on the other side is a lights controlled crossroads with the busway which runs between the two main railway stations, and the under bridge is a main route to The Mall car park. It's a busy part of town and the railway under bridge is a bottleneck, although the completion of the inner ring road a few years ago has made other routes more attractive for some traffic.

There is now only one railway station in Luton Although I can remember the long demolished second station

I was referring to the town centre station and the parkway (for the airport) station. I wasn't around in the days of what I presume was another town centre station on the Dunstable branch line.

Hitchin Road is no longer the A505. The A505 takes a circuitous route around Vauxhall Way and Kimpton Road and eventually around the south / west side of the inner ring.

[SteelCamel]

Interestingly, the bus in the picture appears to have no damage to the front edge of the roof

It looks to me like the bus has actually cleared the bridge, but has been trapped when the rising ground has lifted the middle of the roof high enough to contact the bridge protection beam. Perhaps ironically, if the protection beam wasn't there I think the bus would actually have got through without making contact at all. The deck is certainly much higher than the signed 13ft limit.

[KeithW]

That is no protection beam, it looks to be carrying the railway track, in any case the max height signed is only 13ft and a double decker is typically over 14ft high.

[SteelCamel]

That is no protection beam, it looks to be carrying the railway track, in any case the max height signed is only 13ft and a double decker is typically over 14ft high.

I'm fairly sure it is. Have a look at this view - if Google Maps co-operates you should be looking at the bridge from underneath, near where the bus is stuck. The grey beam on the left is what's trapped the bus. The steelwork just to the right is is the first bridge deck carrying the railway, and there's a clear gap between them. You can also see that the brickwork that the grey beam is supported by doesn't match the rest of the bridge abutment - the bridge abutments step out a few courses from the bottom, while the part under the beam doesn't. It certainly looks to me like the grey beam, and the brickwork under it, are a later addition. The same applies at the other side where there's an identical beam. Neither appears to be carrying anything, other than the height restriction sign and lamp.

[KeithW]

I'm fairly sure it is. Have a look at this view - if Google Maps co-operates you should be looking at the bridge from underneath, near where the bus is stuck. The grey beam on the left is what's trapped the bus. The steelwork just to the right is is the first bridge deck carrying the railway, and there's a clear gap between them. You can also see that the brickwork that the grey beam is supported by doesn't match the rest of the bridge abutment - the bridge abutments step out a few courses from the bottom, while the part under the beam doesn't. It certainly looks to me like the grey beam, and the brickwork under it, are a later addition. The same applies at the other side where there's an identical beam. Neither appears to be carrying anything, other than the height restriction sign and lamp.

Take a look at this GSV
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.88193 ... 312!8i6656

There is a train running just above that beam.

[SteelCamel]

I'm fairly sure it is. Have a look at this view - if Google Maps co-operates you should be looking at the bridge from underneath, near where the bus is stuck. The grey beam on the left is what's trapped the bus. The steelwork just to the right is is the first bridge deck carrying the railway, and there's a clear gap between them. You can also see that the brickwork that the grey beam is supported by doesn't match the rest of the bridge abutment - the bridge abutments step out a few courses from the bottom, while the part under the beam doesn't. It certainly looks to me like the grey beam, and the brickwork under it, are a later addition. The same applies at the other side where there's an identical beam. Neither appears to be carrying anything, other than the height restriction sign and lamp.

Take a look at this GSV
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.88193 ... 312!8i6656

There is a train running just above that beam.

No there isn't. The train is behind the riveted steel parapet. If you look at my streetview link, you'll see that there's a clear gap between that and the grey beam. Also, look at the brickwork - the bridge parapet ends in a wall with a flattish top right by the locomotive door. There's clearly a second wall with a steeply sloping top in front of it. Then look at the underneath view and see where those walls are in relation to the bridge.

[Chris5156]

I'm fairly sure it is. Have a look at this view - if Google Maps co-operates you should be looking at the bridge from underneath, near where the bus is stuck. The grey beam on the left is what's trapped the bus. The steelwork just to the right is is the first bridge deck carrying the railway, and there's a clear gap between them. You can also see that the brickwork that the grey beam is supported by doesn't match the rest of the bridge abutment - the bridge abutments step out a few courses from the bottom, while the part under the beam doesn't. It certainly looks to me like the grey beam, and the brickwork under it, are a later addition. The same applies at the other side where there's an identical beam. Neither appears to be carrying anything, other than the height restriction sign and lamp.

Take a look at this GSV
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.88193 ... 312!8i6656

There is a train running just above that beam.

No there isn't. The train is behind the riveted steel parapet. If you look at my streetview link, you'll see that there's a clear gap between that and the grey beam. Also, look at the brickwork - the bridge parapet ends in a wall with a flattish top right by the locomotive door. There's clearly a second wall with a steeply sloping top in front of it. Then look at the underneath view and see where those walls are in relation to the bridge.

Agreed, the grey beam is a protection beam that carries no load. The tracks are behind the red-painted parapet which is a separate part of the structure.

[baroudeur]

Yes. Although I don't know the specifics of the incident, I do know that railway bridge very well. On one side is a lights controlled crossroads on the Luton inner ring road, on the other side is a lights controlled crossroads with the busway which runs between the two main railway stations, and the under bridge is a main route to The Mall car park. It's a busy part of town and the railway under bridge is a bottleneck, although the completion of the inner ring road a few years ago has made other routes more attractive for some traffic.

There is now only one railway station in Luton Although I can remember the long demolished second station

I was referring to the town centre station and the parkway (for the airport) station. I wasn't around in the days of what I presume was another town centre station on the Dunstable branch line.

Hitchin Road is no longer the A505. The A505 takes a circuitous route around Vauxhall Way and Kimpton Road and eventually around the south / west side of the inner ring.

Apologies, I blame old age! I automatically visualised it as the Luton mainline and Luton Bute Street stations - old memories die hard and Luton Parkway doesn't register - yet!

[trickstat]

Hasn't Luton actually got 3 stations with the main one, the Parkway and Leagrave in the Northern suburbs?

[owen b]

Hasn't Luton actually got 3 stations with the main one, the Parkway and Leagrave in the Northern suburbs?

Yes. That's why in my original post I referred to "the two main railway stations". I wouldn't call Leagrave a main station.

[The Deuce]

It appears the protection beam (tube?) added in 2014/15 has done its job and saved the bridge from an impact in an incident today on the A5006 Stoke Road, Stoke on Trent

Police have blocked off a busy road after a lorry has crashed into part of a railway bridge. A photograph from the scene - on Stoke Road, in Shelton - shows the stricken wagon stuck by the bridge.

It has become a common sight in the Potteries over the years with trucks colliding with bridges in the city - including the one on Stoke Road as well as those in Longton and Abbey Hulton.

Today's collision has seen the lorry smash into a large steel pipe which runs in front of the bridge itself. An image from the scene shows police have blocked off the route from the Stoke side by the A500.
https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/news/st ... ry-8063346

[vlad]

It appears the protection beam (tube?) added in 2014/15 has done its job and saved the bridge from an impact in an incident today on the A5006 Stoke Road, Stoke on Trent

Given the bridge (here) is practically fluorescent I've no idea why it's hit so often, apart from the fact that it may be lower than people expect. I can't help feeling that paying people to stop every driver to tell them the bridge height wouldn't improve things....