A MAJOR cross-country artery between Leicester and Peterborough was closed between November 5 and 22 after an HGV collided with Fosters Bridge spanning the A6121 between South Luffenham and Stamford.
Operated by waste contractor Biffa, the lorry was transporting waste to landfill in a large roll-on, roll-off skip on behalf of Rutland County Council. The impact left the skip on the road and damaged the lorry, and the driver was taken to hospital.
Although the incident occurred at 7.45am on what is normally a busy line, it was fortunate – particularly as the bridge deck was moved and bent by the impact – that it was a strike day and therefore no trains were running at the time.
Damage
Within 24 hours of the incident, Network Rail released pictures showing how an external girder had been bent by about 12 inches. There was other damage to crossbeams.
In a statement released on November 6, NR said critical parts of the bridge structure was so badly damaged that a significant part of it needs to be replaced, adding that initial repairs were estimated to take up to three weeks to complete, with a new bridge deck being fabricated off-site. The road remained closed for the duration of the repairs.
The bridge is 13
