Branston Bridge Closed After Lorry Drivers Disregard Weight Limits

A bridge has been closed to all traffic because some lorry drivers have been ignoring weight restrictions. Staffordshire County Council stated that Branston Bridge in Burton upon Trent was experiencing structural issues, and the restrictions had been put in place for safety reasons. The council reported having CCTV evidence of large vehicles traversing the 185-year-old bridge, despite a 7.5-tonne limit and a width limit of 2.3m (7.5ft). The bridge will remain inaccessible while engineers assess options for its repair and reinforcement, with the ultimate goal of eventually reopening it to larger vehicles. Mark Deaville, the councillor responsible for highways, commented: “Despite clear signage, repeated warnings and the implementation of weight and width restrictions, drivers continue to disregard the posted limits, putting themselves and others at risk.” He added that the council had taken every possible step to keep the bridge operational, “including implementing weight and width restrictions, camera enforcement and working with local businesses to minimise the impact”. Mr Deaville indicated that the required work is likely to be complex, and the council plans to seek funding from the Department for Transport. Follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.