Bridges with a height or weight restriction

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In Wiltshire there are a number of bridges with weight or height restrictions which may inconvenience hauliers when delivering or travelling in the county.

The Council endeavours to keep these restrictions to a minimum however it is not always possible to avoid placing temporary or permanent restrictions on the roads.

This page is currently under development but a new restriction is to be applied to Station Road Bridge, Westbury.

Station Road Railway Bridge, Westbury

Wiltshire Council has been in discussion with Network Rail, the owners of the above bridge, about its condition and the need for strengthening work. The bridge was assessed as being sub-standard some time ago and it was hoped that the construction of a bypass for Westbury would provide an alternative route for heavy goods vehicles accessing the trading estate from the south.

Now that the bypass is not going ahead, it is necessary to take measures to safeguard the long-term future of the bridge and Network Rail has formally requested a structural weight limit.

Network Rail will undertake the work to the bridge to increase the carrying capacity up to its legal liability of 7.5 tonnes, but track space has to be booked well in advance to fit in with other scheduled work on the line. It will take at least a year to design the work and secure the necessary access. In the meantime, a 3 tonne structural weight limit [3 tonne maximum gross weight] will be imposed on the bridge. A diversion route for vehicles over 3 tonnes by Sunday 15th November 2009, the date when the weight limit will come into force.

Buses and emergency vehicles over 3 tonnes will be able to divert along Slag Lane and Hawkeridge Road via a “bus gate”.

Once the bus gate is built and the 3 tonne structural weight limit is in place, vehicles above that weight will be required to access the trading estate via Yarnbrook.

When Network Rail’s strengthening work has been undertaken it will be possible to increase the weight limit on Station Road Bridge to 7.5tonnes. In the longer term further work to the bridge will be necessary.

A plan of the restrictions and diversion routes may be seen below

• Bridges - Restrictions and Diversion Routes Restrictions and Diversion Routes 3mb

Last updated: 15 July 2010