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New tech for one of Britain's most-bashed bridges

Network Rail A orange lorry is trapped under a red-brick arched bridge, which is highlighted by yellow and black striped reflective signs. Triangular signs denote the height and a warning reads: "High vehicles use centre of road".Network Rail
The East Coast Main Line runs across Harlaxton Road railway bridge, Grantham, which was the fifth most struck in Britain last year, according to Network Rail

Vehicles striking a bridge in Grantham have cost the taxpayer more than half a million pounds, according to Network Rail.

Harlaxton Road railway bridge has been hit 11 times since March 2024, resulting in a bill of £600,000 for delays and damages.

Network Rail said new technology would be installed at the 173-year-old bridge to "focus on recovery" after incidents.

Councillor Richard Davies said lorries must be diverted out of the town and urged rail and road bosses to "sit down and make it happen".

There were three strikes in one week last November, Network Rail said. This cost £423,022 in damages and 59 hours of delays.

Michael Clegg is standing near an arched brick-work bridge as a van passes beneath it. He has light brown hair, is wearing glasses and is smiling with his lips closed.
Michael Clegg, of Network Rail, says he understands why people have been frustrated by delays caused by bridge strikes

Rail bosses have said sensors and monitors will be bolted to the structure and the tracks above, which will allow staff to visually check the bridge and identify the strength of any impact.

Michael Clegg, a route engineer at Network Rail, said emergency response staff were required to inspect the bridge after each strike and the new technology would help improve recovery times by placing the data "at their fingertips".

"They can assess it in seconds rather than taking hours to get there," he added.

The Harlaxton bridge was struck 14 times between April 2023 and March 2024, the fifth highest figure in Britain, according to Network Rail.

RSM Photography A close-up of a white lorry trapped under a railway bridge. The roof of the vehicle looks torn where it has struck a bright yellow and black dashed sign on the bridge.RSM Photography
A lorry hit Barrowby Road bridge on 9 January

A short distance up the tracks at Barrowby bridge, there were five strikes during the same period, which cost £28,287 and caused more than four hours of delays.

Councillor Richard Davies said the town "grinds to a halt" when bridges are struck. He wants HGVS to be diverted away from the centre of the town.

"We've been saying for years to Network Rail and National Highways that they need to get this sorted," he said. "Sit down and make it happen."

However, Mr Clegg said: "We do have to get HGVS from one side of Grantham to another, that's how the infrastructure works."

Grantham bridge collisions: What's the solution?

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