Britain's lowest railway bridge and weakest road bridges

[Bryn666]

It's about load distribution presumably, a bus every hour is less damaging to structural stability than 44t lorries every twenty seconds.

I've never quite got the point of the West Approach Road, it's a pain to get to and doesn't really speed you in and out of the city. Presumably it's a hangover from unrealised plans.

[wrinkly]

I've never quite got the point of the West Approach Road, it's a pain to get to and doesn't really speed you in and out of the city. Presumably it's a hangover from unrealised plans.

Wasn't it, at least in part, just opportunistic use of redundant railway routes?

But I think it would also have tied in with the Western Relief Road which was dropped.

[Ruperts Trooper]

That's clearly not a weight limit based on civil engineering restrictions - probably the easiest way for a jobsworth authority to ban everything except buses.

So drivers shouldnt take it seriously if it has an except buses notice, if a local authority wants a bus gate they should put it in.
Although they should only do that if its completely necessary.

The weight limit has been there since the road opened in the mid 70s. It was formerly a railway line. The road is narrow for an S2 and runs along a steep sided embankment, the concern presumably being that an HGV would impose too much stress on the edge of the road and risk collapsing the embankment. If this is the case I've no idea why buses are exempt.

That's often the reason for imposing 3.5 or 7.5 tonne limits - but 1.5 tonne ? The maximum laden weight of a '76 mk4 Cortina was over that, even then

[A9NWIL]

So drivers shouldnt take it seriously if it has an except buses notice, if a local authority wants a bus gate they should put it in.
Although they should only do that if its completely necessary.

The weight limit has been there since the road opened in the mid 70s. It was formerly a railway line. The road is narrow for an S2 and runs along a steep sided embankment, the concern presumably being that an HGV would impose too much stress on the edge of the road and risk collapsing the embankment. If this is the case I've no idea why buses are exempt.

That's often the reason for imposing 3.5 or 7.5 tonne limits - but 1.5 tonne ? The maximum laden weight of a '76 mk4 Cortina was over that, even then

Hence why I said they really wanted a bus gate!

[MrEnder666]

It's about load distribution presumably, a bus every hour is less damaging to structural stability than 44t lorries every twenty seconds.

I've never quite got the point of the West Approach Road, it's a pain to get to and doesn't really speed you in and out of the city. Presumably it's a hangover from unrealised plans.

They could use some of these:-

[michael769]

Except buses if anything over 1.5T goes down that road it'll collapse, sewers will spout forth, the world will end etc etc. Except buses.

That sign needs to be removed - the TRO is actually a prohibition on goods vehicle over 1.5T - here's the more recent (and correct assuming the requisite special authorization has been obtained) sign:

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@55.94065 ... 6656?hl=en

As a regular driver in Edinburgh the West approach road is IMO an excellent bypass of Haymarket and the A70 through Gorgie - it is a little awkward to access but offers a significant time saving - especially at peak by cutting out numerous traffic lights and the gyratory mess around Haymarket.

[JohnnyMo]

Except buses if anything over 1.5T goes down that road it'll collapse, sewers will spout forth, the world will end etc etc. Except buses.

I was thinking that, it makes a mockery of the restriction! I would imagine that anything large would ignore it considering they allow buses over the bridge!

That's clearly not a weight limit based on civil engineering restrictions - probably the easiest way for a jobsworth authority to ban everything except buses.

OK I take it 1.5T is a very low limit if 10T buses are allowed over the road, but where there is a 7.5T restriction I can imagine with a bus the weight is more evenly distributed & with a longer wheelbase than a HGV of a similar weight placing less stress on the infrastructure.

[michael769]

OK I take it 1.5T is a very low limit if 10T buses are allowed over the road, but where there is a 7.5T restriction I can imagine with a bus the weight is more evenly distributed & with a longer wheelbase than a HGV of a similar weight placing less stress on the infrastructure.

There is a volume thing as well - the authority will know how many buses pass over the bridge (from timetables - unscheduled bus runs are uncommon and will likely only at 1-2 extra buses an hour). With trucks they have no idea how many will pass but do know that there are more trucks on the road than buses.

A weak bridge that can handle 10T today - may not stay that way if is is being pounded by dozen's of 10T vehicles an hour - but could well stand up to 1-2 an hour.

[roadmart]

Not sure if it is the lowest rail bridge, but probably a contender, Near Trago Mills at Twowatersfoot, Liskeard https://goo.gl/maps/EGzfpHr1JkA2

[quarella]

The Ropewalk near Neath railway station is 5'9" (May need to zoom). https://goo.gl/maps/x31NujQhBBn.
At Bishton near Newport 5'6" https://goo.gl/maps/BjYfjwDSA7v.
While not particularly low, this one at Pontypridd I think is rather nasty. https://goo.gl/maps/9gsSUrLq3w12 with the second arch dropping 2' in the nearside lane half way through.

[WHBM]

I've never quite got the point of the West Approach Road, it's a pain to get to and doesn't really speed you in and out of the city. Presumably it's a hangover from unrealised plans.

I was studying transportation etc in Edinburgh when it opened (1976?).

Yes, it's half built. Initially intended to be straight through to the M8. The inner city bit along the old railway was built but the outer bit was not, so it doesn't connect anywhere strategic. There was then a political upset over the prospect of HGVs approaching it over existing residential roads, hence the HGV weight limit, and why buses are exempt. It actually delayed opening when completed for several months while all this was argued over. All nearly half a century ago (gosh) and nothing has really been achieved with it since. Subsequent elimination of Princes Street as a through route, for the tram, has made it even less relevant.

[Burns]

I've never quite got the point of the West Approach Road, it's a pain to get to and doesn't really speed you in and out of the city. Presumably it's a hangover from unrealised plans.

I was studying transportation etc in Edinburgh when it opened (1976?).

Yes, it's half built. Initially intended to be straight through to the M8. The inner city bit along the old railway was built but the outer bit was not, so it doesn't connect anywhere strategic. There was then a political upset over the prospect of HGVs approaching it over existing residential roads, hence the HGV weight limit, and why buses are exempt. It actually delayed opening when completed for several months while all this was argued over. All nearly half a century ago (gosh) and nothing has really been achieved with it since. Subsequent elimination of Princes Street as a through route, for the tram, has made it even less relevant.

I normally park at Castle Terrace so the Western Approach Road is how I normally enter and exit the city. Those two miles without stop-start, Edinburgh nonsense are great.

[Jim606]

I guess there are different catergories for main roads etc. for Britain's lowest railway bridge?

The bridge on the A137 at Manningtree in Essex is only 9'5" or about 2.87m & is the scene of regular crashes; http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... ridge.html However, some do want to see it rebuilt; http://www.eadt.co.uk/news/manningtree- ... -1-5386302

[FleetlinePhil]

https://goo.gl/maps/NaQrpitU3oE2
The railway bridge just visible in the distance is the lowest I have used regularly, as it is on the approach road to the car park for the RSPB Morecambe Bay reserve. I think it is 6'6", but it is a while since I have been and I might be a few inches out. It makes me duck in a Citroen C3 anyway!

[Sam]

Ely has a famous bridge, often quoted as the 'most hit railway bridge' in the country. Though it's far from the lowest on this thread!

[SussexMan]

I have no idea whether this bridge in a wonderfully named road is the lowest but it is a railway bridge over a road. Without going along with my tape measure I can't tell you how high it is as it isn't signed! I've walked through it and I don't think I had to duck and I am 6'4" but I may be wrong.

Cockshut Road, Lewes, East Sussex

Either it isn't a public road (nothing to say it is private) or the thought is that if you can't spot it's low then you probably wouldn't spot any signs. The GSV car clearly accessed it from both sides but couldn't fit through.

[Bertiebus]

The bridge under the railway at Easthaven (Angus) always makes me duck whenever I drive under it.

(According to the sign it's 2m, or 6' 6")

[WHBM]

Ely has a famous bridge, often quoted as the 'most hit railway bridge' in the country. Though it's far from the lowest on this thread!

I wonder which is the most struck. I would go for Kenworthy Road in Hackney, London, regularly announced on the radio and always with smash damage visible both sides

https://www.google.com/maps/@51.5466733 ... 312!8i6656

https://www.google.com/maps/@51.547023, ... 312!8i6656

[jmbillings]

Ely has a famous bridge, often quoted as the 'most hit railway bridge' in the country. Though it's far from the lowest on this thread!

I wonder which is the most struck. I would go for Kenworthy Road in Hackney, London, regularly announced on the radio and always with smash damage visible both sides

https://www.google.com/maps/@51.5466733 ... 312!8i6656

https://www.google.com/maps/@51.547023, ... 312!8i6656

I struggled to find an official top 10 or similar. Back in 2010 the Telegraph reported Ely was most-hit: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/ne ... itain.html and the Cambridge News reported similar last autumn (get an ad-blocker before visiting their mess of a website) https://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/news/c ... n-13813637

[Chris5156]

Ely has a famous bridge, often quoted as the 'most hit railway bridge' in the country. Though it's far from the lowest on this thread!

I wonder which is the most struck. I would go for Kenworthy Road in Hackney, London, regularly announced on the radio and always with smash damage visible both sides

https://www.google.com/maps/@51.5466733 ... 312!8i6656

https://www.google.com/maps/@51.547023, ... 312!8i6656

I’m sure I remember reading that the bridge over the A215 at Norwood Junction station held the record for decapitating the most double decker buses. I don’t think it’s especially bad for lorry strikes, though it does still suffer them.