Bashed Bridge Of The Week

Britain’s most bashed bridge has been named by Network Rail as being located in Stuntney Road, adjacent to Ely station in Cambridgeshire. With a clearance of just 2.7 metres it was hit eighteen times in 2023/24. It only just won the title, beating off competition from bridges in Stonea Road in Stonea in March and Lower Downs Road in Wimbledon, both of which recorded seventeen strikes.

Residents in Stonea, though, think that Network Rail’s are understated, some claiming, conservatively, that it has been struck at least fifty times over the period and that only serious incidents where a vehicle becomes wedged under the arch are officially reported.

In all, Network Rail report that there were 1,532 bridge strike in the year up to April, costing an estimated £20m in delays, cancellations and repairs.

Completing the top ten are

4. Watling Street A5, Hinckley – 15 strikes5. Harlaxton Road, Grantham – 14 strikes6. Doncaster Road (A638), Ackworth, Ferrybridge – 13 strikes7. Warminster Road Bridge, Wilton – 11 strikes8. Abbey Farm, Thetford – 11 strikes9. Kenworthy Road Bridge, Homerton – 11 strikes10. Jews Lane, Twerton – 10 strikes

On the plus side, strikes are down from 2021/22 when 1,864 were recorded.