COMMERCIAL vehicle drivers are being urged to adhere to weight and width limits on a historic bridge near Alrewas – or risk it shutting completely.
The 19th century Grade II Listed Chetwynd Bridge saw ironwork repaired as part of a £2.35million project two years ago.
It also saw a 7.5 tonne weight and 2.3 metre width restriction put in place to ensure the structure could remain open to vehicles until a longer-term plan for a new crossing to take traffic is built.
But highways bosses say drivers are ignoring the limits in order to use the bridge and causing structural damage which could cause it to shut completely to vehicles.
Staffordshire County Council’s cabinet member for strategic highways, Cllr Mark Deaville, said:
“Chetwynd Bridge is listed and a historic asset to the area and our highways team has done a fantastic job on its full restoration – recognised by industry awards – ensuring it is safe and sympathetically preserved for future generations.
“As a 200-year-old bridge it was not designed for today’s traffic and as the ironwork deteriorated it was necessary to implement both weight and width restrictions. Without them the bridge would have to close as it would become unsafe.
“Unfortunately, despite the signage and other repeated communication, heavy commercial vehicles are ignoring the limits and continuing to use the bridge. We’re urging them to please use alternative routes and may have to take enforcement action if the problem persists as closure would be detrimental to the wider community.
“We’d like to thank drivers and businesses who are being responsible and supporting our efforts to protect the bridge and ensure it remains open.”
The county council said that once funding was found for a new crossing, the plan was for the existing bridge to be used only by pedestrians.
Put a camera up! £100 fine by post for transgressions. While you’re at it catch the lorry drivers breaching Lichfield weight limit.
Put up a camera and fine those who don’t comply
While there is nothing but signage, the drivers will blindly follow their satellite navigation systems and ignore the road signs.
There needs to be physical restrictions ie pinch point bollards and a height bar at the top where the signs are, restricting larger vehicles gaining access to that road at a place where they can easily turn around and find an alternate route.
Same needs to be done at the Bailey bridge, walton.
While we await the building of the new bridge, these two smaller bridges are a key transport link to surrounding villages.
Enforcement is for the Police. Getting the police to enforce weight restrictions Ha, good luck!!! Tried to get them to enforce the weight restrictions around Lichfield. Waste of time. They are not interested. Completely useless.
Why not erect ANPR cameras and heavily fine drivers/operators who ignore the restrictions?
I seem to recall that bridge strikes on Upper St John St were stopped almost overnight when it was announced that prosecutions would follow. Apologies if I’m not remembering correctly, but a similar approach here (and everywhere else where weight restrictions are in force) would soon get word around. Prevention has to be better, but unfortunately drivers will continue to flout the law if there is not enforcement of it.