Another bridge strike

[trickstat]

Bus couldn't quite squeeze through here in Cork.
The bus route should have passed over the bridge.

Driver must have missed this sign about 500m before:

https://www.google.ie/maps/@51.8746519, ... 384!8i8192

Never mind "500m back" - what about the big yellow diamond sign, saying "3.4m", on the wall to the right of the aperture: and therefore surely visible to the driver?

Mike.

I didn't mention that because it was clear on the original picture. Also, the bridge is clearly rather low with a maximum height that only applies in the middle of the road and you would hope that anyone driving a double decker bus or other tall vehicle would be very wary of even attempting to drive through it even if there were no height indicators.

[Bryn666]

Driver must have missed this sign about 500m before:

https://www.google.ie/maps/@51.8746519, ... 384!8i8192

In fairness, that's a dreadful sign and it's badly positioned. I clicked my way along GSV for quite some way before realising the sign referred to the other road at the junction.

That area appears to have a rash of wordy yellow signs where a standard warning sign would do the job - within a few hundred metres you can also see PEDESTRIAN CROSSING AHEAD, TWO WAY TRAFFIC, CAUTION PEDESTRIAN CROSSING AHEAD, and even (in advance of some traffic lights) PREPARE TO STOP. What a way to run a railroad!

Irish road signs still need a lot of work. If anyone from the Irish roads authorities are reading this I am available at a competitive rate

[jervi]

https://thelincolnite.co.uk/2020/10/hay ... il-bridge/
I hope that the bridge was thankful that it was only striked by hay.

[trickstat]

https://thelincolnite.co.uk/2020/10/hay ... il-bridge/
I hope that the bridge was thankful that it was only striked by hay.

The driver didn't bale out in time........

[M4 Cardiff]

Exstrawdinarily silly thing to do. I wonder whether the driver has been put out to grass over this.

[FleetlinePhil]

A report in the current issue of Buses magazine that Senior Traffic Commissioner Richard Turfitt has issued a warning to bus operators after the recent spate of low bridge collisions.

He warns that regulatory action - which could include the loss of the operator's licence - is a real possibility for those failing to take appropriate control measures, as well as for the drivers involved.

Not before time, I would suggest.

Also shown in the report is a booklet produced by Diamond North West showing the location of all low bridges in their operating area, which at first glance seems a worthwhile effort. It was their vehicle involved in the Barton-upon-Irwell collision in the summer, where the problem appeared to be that a double-decker was taken under a bridge normally used only by single-deckers on a different route. Assuming the driver was also familiar with that route, they would have known of the low bridge but still drove under it, so I'm not sure exactly how helpful a book will be in every circumstance. It may be of more use if vehicles are diverted off their normal route and drivers are in unfamiliar territory, as with the collision at Bramley also discussed upthread.

[aj444]

This is why I was asking if anyone out there produced custom printed maps with bridge heights on - I eventually had to go with a printed map from Collins and a set of pins / labels

[Vierwielen]

https://thelincolnite.co.uk/2020/10/hay ... il-bridge/
I hope that the bridge was thankful that it was only striked by hay.

Looking at the pictures, it appears that the first two piles of bales were OK, it was teh third that hit the bridge and it had a number of "thin" bales rather than regular bales. Wonder if that was the problem?

[linuxrocks]

Midlands home to most-bashed bridges
Litchfield and Dudley are numbers 2 & 3 on the list. I wonder where the number 1 candidate is?

[Bryn666]

Midlands home to most-bashed bridges
Litchfield and Dudley are numbers 2 & 3 on the list. I wonder where the number 1 candidate is?

A5 at Hinckley, apparently.

[Chris Bertram]

Midlands home to most-bashed bridges
Litchfield and Dudley are numbers 2 & 3 on the list. I wonder where the number 1 candidate is?

Is the low bridge in Ely still being struck regularly? Roadtester, can you report?

EDIT - Got it, it's the A5 Watling Street Bridge near Hinckley.

[Chris Bertram]

Midlands home to most-bashed bridges
Litchfield and Dudley are numbers 2 & 3 on the list. I wonder where the number 1 candidate is?

For clarity, the Bromford Road bridge in "Dudley" is actually the bridge next to Sandwell and Dudley Station, so really in Oldbury. The error is in NR's press release.

[Bryn666]

Midlands home to most-bashed bridges
Litchfield and Dudley are numbers 2 & 3 on the list. I wonder where the number 1 candidate is?

Is the low bridge in Ely still being struck regularly? Roadtester, can you report?

EDIT - Got it, it's the A5 Watling Street Bridge near Hinckley.

The bridge in Ely now has signal control given it has been bypassed and more signs, the only things hitting it now are vans and chancers. Everyone else is using the bypass.

[A303Chris]

Here on the BBC are the Top Ten Railway Bridge Strike Sites in Britain, just waiting for Fluff Freeman Music

[doebag]

Same bridge, different numpty

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-c ... e-50138592

Stonea rail bridge closed for approximately 12 months
https://www.railadvent.co.uk/2019/11/st ... pairs.html

Drove through last month and the bridge is still closed to road traffic.

[2 Sheds]

This is why I was asking if anyone out there produced custom printed maps with bridge heights on - I eventually had to go with a printed map from Collins and a set of pins / labels

Various map producers used to publish a Truckers’ Atlas. The AA version for instance showed 3600 bridge headrooms. I used to sit on a national bridge committee which attempted to tackle this problem over many years. Having retired from that several years ago I don’t know whether truckers’ satnavs have been developed.

[the cheesecake man]

Perhaps we should have more of these, at least as an experiment at some locations to see if they make a difference.

[coneman]

Midlands home to most-bashed bridges
Litchfield and Dudley are numbers 2 & 3 on the list. I wonder where the number 1 candidate is?

Is the low bridge in Ely still being struck regularly? Roadtester, can you report?

EDIT - Got it, it's the A5 Watling Street Bridge near Hinckley.

Looking at the general topography of the area how possible would it be beyond the realms of fantasy to 'think out of the box' and lower the road.

Now not being from the area and having any knowledge of what underground services lie beneath the surface surely it can't be beyond the realms of road engineering to "shave off" gradually from 100yds either side to provide say 18-24ins below the bridge deck.

The biggest problem other than moving utilities would be surface water drainage which would require a powered pumping system and I also realise I might just have had a fatwah imposed on me by the Network Rail bridge inspectors union but hey its just a rambling thought - or is it ?

[avtur]

Midlands home to most-bashed bridges
Litchfield and Dudley are numbers 2 & 3 on the list. I wonder where the number 1 candidate is?

Is the low bridge in Ely still being struck regularly? Roadtester, can you report?

EDIT - Got it, it's the A5 Watling Street Bridge near Hinckley.

Looking at the general topography of the area how possible would it be beyond the realms of fantasy to 'think out of the box' and lower the road.

Now not being from the area and having any knowledge of what underground services lie beneath the surface surely it can't be beyond the realms of road engineering to "shave off" gradually from 100yds either side to provide say 18-24ins below the bridge deck.

The biggest problem other than moving utilities would be surface water drainage which would require a powered pumping system and I also realise I might just have had a fatwah imposed on me by the Network Rail bridge inspectors union but hey its just a rambling thought - or is it ?

A good example of lowering the road can be found on the A5149 (Station Road) in Cheadle Hulme, there are two railway bridges over the road which in the early 1900's were quite restrictive, certainly too low for double-deck buses. I'm not sure of the date but the level of Station Road was lowered significantly under both railway bridges to allow double-deck buses and large commercial vehicles to pass under them. This creates a very obvious dip in the road, especially at the junction with Mellor Road and this area is noted for its ability to flood in extreme weather conditions. The gradient when entering Mellor Road from Station Road is notabley steep.

https://www.google.com/maps/@53.3758189 ... 384!8i8192

[Ruperts Trooper]

Midlands home to most-bashed bridges
Lichfield and Dudley are numbers 2 & 3 on the list. I wonder where the number 1 candidate is?

A5 at Hinckley, apparently.

So all three within a few miles of me!