A railway bridge which recently took off the top of a lorry travelling underneath has been hit by vehicles 30 times over the past 11 years — but there are no plans to make the route safer.
The lorry travelling on Victoria Road in Gowerton , Swansea, had its top completely ripped over the weekend, scattering the debris over the highway, and causing trains passing overhead to travel at reduced speed for around an hour as a precaution.
The incident was just the latest to involve the bridge, which has a height limit of 3.3 metres.
Network Rail has now revealed the same bridge has experienced 30 collisions since 2008, despite yellow signs with flashing lights being situated either side to drivers of the bridges height.
There are additional signs warning of the bridge’s height restrictions repeated along roads approaching the bridge, which is situated close to the town’s rugby club.
Gowerton councillor Susan Jones said she had lobbied Swansea Council’s highways department to review the signage around the bridge, in order to give drivers more warning.
She added: “My personal opinion is that the flashing lights are too near to the bridge. It gives drivers nowhere to go.”
Network Rail has now revealed figures which show just how many times the bridge has been struck in recent years, including seven in 2010 and six in 2015. In 2014, collision protection beams were added to the structure. Last weekend’s incident was the second recorded collision this year.
Yet despite the latest collision, Network Rail says there are no existing plans for further safety measures.
A Network Rail spokesman said: “The number of vehicles involved in incidents with the bridge over Victoria Road in Gowerton has largely been limited to large vans, rather than lorries.
“Network Rail has no plans at this stage to undertake any work on the bridge, which would need major roadworks in order to dig down on the road and make the level of the road lower.
“There is already plenty of signage on the immediate approach to the bridge warning drivers of its low height, and on roads leading towards the bridge, and it is the responsibility of drivers to take note of those”.
A Swansea Council spokesman added: "We are confident there is sufficient signage on all main approach roads to Gowerton warning lorry drivers of the height restrictions of the bridge.
"Additional signage was also installed 18 months ago following discussions with the local ward member.
"Electronic height detection warning signs are also installed near the bridge providing a final warning to lorry drivers.
"We would expect haulage companies and their drivers to be fully aware of the height of their vehicles and avoid this route if their vehicle is higher than the advertised height restriction."
