Every year, bashed bridges and restore payments value the taxpayer hundreds of thousands of kilos.
A low bridge in Leicestershire has develop into probably the most bashed in Britain (Picture: Leicestershire Police)
Britain’s most ceaselessly struck railway bridge was hit a staggering 22 instances in only one 12 months. Figures launched by Community Rail present that 1,666 bridge strikes had been recorded throughout the nation between April 2024 and March 2025, the equal of 1 incident roughly each 5 hours. These collisions led to greater than 120 days of delays for passengers and price the rail trade an estimated £12 million on account of disruption and cancellations.
Topping the listing was the low railway bridge over the A5 Watling Avenue in Hinckley, which has develop into infamous after being struck 22 instances inside that interval. Now, nevertheless, the long-awaited work is lastly set to start to sort out the problem, with plans in place to decrease the street beneath the bridge to stop additional crashes and scale back ongoing disruption.
Builders say development will start on Could 5 as a part of a wider programme of freeway enhancements within the space. One of many key components of the scheme includes decreasing the carriageway beneath the railway bridge to cut back the variety of collisions attributable to over-height lorries.
The works kind half of a bigger infrastructure improve linked to a serious logistics growth close by. Developer Mountpark, which is behind the challenge, has dedicated to funding the street modifications alongside different enhancements, together with upgrades to junctions, higher entry for pedestrians and cyclists, and new traffic-controlled entry factors, the BBC reported.
A short lived site visitors order outlines that the scheme is anticipated to take as much as a 12 months total, though probably the most disruptive part, decreasing the street, is anticipated to happen over a shorter interval throughout the summer time.
This part of labor is prone to require a full closure lasting a few weeks, with in a single day shutdowns additionally deliberate at varied phases.
Throughout development, a diminished 40mph velocity restrict will reportedly be enforced alongside a part of the A5, and diversions will redirect drivers by way of main routes together with the M69, M6 and M42.
Conservative MP for Hinckley and Bosworth, Dr Luke Evans, stated that work would drive the street to shut “over a brief interval of a few weeks throughout the summer time holidays”.
“Our space has been ready for thus lengthy to get the problem of the Watling Avenue bridge sorted. There might be disruption whereas these works happen, however I am positive we will all agree that sorting this bridge is lengthy overdue.
“That is short-term ache for long-term acquire.”
Developer Mountpark confirmed that the works embody the supply of latest signal-controlled web site entry, upgrades to Dodwells Roundabout, improved pedestrian and cycle connectivity, and decreasing the A5 carriageway.
Tom Kilmister, senior growth director at Mountpark, stated: “By addressing this long-standing bottleneck, Mountpark will ship lasting enhancements to security, lowering disruption and enhance reliability for the local people and the broader street community.”
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A Nationwide Highways spokesperson stated: “Nationwide Highways has acquired notification of some preliminary preparation works to begin this spring. Nonetheless, we don’t but have any particulars of when the primary works will begin.
“This can should be confirmed by the developer, Mountpark.”
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