Drivers are being urged to follow in full A5 diversions around Lichfield next week to avoid hitting Britain’s most bashed railway bridge.
It’s feared major roadworks on the A5 near Lichfield could see drivers of high vehicles try to take a shortcut, or follow inaccurate sat-nav directions, directly into the path of St John Street bridge in the city.
Despite being clearly marked with height restrictions, the bridge has been hit 28 times in the last 12 months, making it Network Rail’s most struck.
Bridge strikes cause delays for rail passengers across the country and cost taxpayers millions of pounds each year.
With roadworks starting on the A5 on Monday (6 July), Network Rail is advising motorists to follow Highway England’s diversionary routes which avoid the low railway bridge near Lichfield City station.
Martin Colmey, head of operations for Central route, said: “With St John Street bridge in Lichfield already having the unenviable title of the most bashed in the country, I’d urge all drivers of large vehicles to follow the recommended diversion signs and not their sat-nav during Highways England’s work on the A5.
“There is no excuse for drivers to hit railway bridges. Bridge strikes are entirely avoidable, put the safety of rail passengers and road users at risk, and cost the taxpayer millions of pounds each year to fix. Our message is simple – lorry drivers, plan your route and know, don’t guess, the height of your vehicle.”
Resurfacing work is being carried out at Wall roundabout on the A5, between Muckley Corner and the Weeford roundabout, from 6 to 24 July.
The road will be closed in both directions, between the A46 and M6 junction 2, from 8pm to 6am every weeknight.
Motorists driving high sided vehicles should follow the signed diversion routes, agreed with the local authority, to avoid the Lichfield bridge.
In the last year:
- There were almost 2,000 instances of vehicles hitting railway bridges – an average of five per day
- It cost Network Rail £16 million in schedule 8 (delay) payments
- Bridge strikes caused more than 200,000 minutes of delays for rail passengers.
On average nationally, each strike caused 90 minutes of delays and cost £7,000.
Photo credit: Network Rail
