Stonea – Britain’s most bashed bridge 2022 – hit twice in two days …
There is no chance of any improvements at one of Britain’s most bashed bridges until the government agrees to fund upgrades at an Ely railway junction.
News that Network Rail cannot act to make the Stonea railway crossing and underpass safer comes in a week where two vehicles have hit the bridge.
Local resident James Fuller who lives close to the underpass located on the Sixteen Foot road has been actively campaigning for action at the underpass, which was dubbed Britain’s most bashed bridge in 2022 having been struck 33 times up to March last year.
Every crash not only costs the drivers whose vehicles are damaged when they get wedged under the bridge, but also passengers who face unnecessary train delays and cancellations while incidents are dealt with.
Earlier this summer motorcyclist Brian Dewey, 73, from Little Thetford was killed in a crash at the railway crossing.
Since then there have been numerous drivers who have found their vehicles stuck after ignoring the height warning signs and attempting to drive through the underpass.
James has written to Network Rail, Cambridgeshire County Council and local MP Stephen Barclay calling for the underpass to be closed.
In a written response a community relations executive for Network Rail advised James only the county council has the powers to close the underpass, but they also told him he could attempt to get it closed by making an application under the Highways Act of 1980 to local magistrates.
Network Rail also told James that when the underpass was closed for major repairs for 18 months in October 2019 they were forced to install three way traffic lights to ensure the safety of the crossing gates operator.
The executive said: “The closure of the underpass was a very difficult period for the signalling staff and we had many complaints of abuse and threats of violence towards the signalling staff from vehicle users. Due to all traffic over the bridge meant huge volumes were realised compared to just a few from over height vehicles.
“We had to eventually install three way traffic lights so that the signallers could operate the gates safely at a cost of £25,000 per month.”
The executive goes on to explain the placement of the crossing over the railway lines is such that it would mean “enormous work to install automatic gates, which would actually increase the risk of a safety incident, which we cannot compromise on.”
The executive also made mention of the possibility of some sort of agreement between Fenland District Council and Cambridgeshire County Highways that would enable Network Rail to build an overpass across the river.
However, a media spokesman for Network Rail categorically denied there was any such possibility because of the enormous costs involved, not to mention the complications of having to acquire the necessary land.
But he did say there were hopes to upgrade the gates at the railway crossing which would see the installation of automatic barriers to replace the existing manually operated ones.
However, the work is too expensive for Network Rail to do has a stand alone project and therefore any improvements would be tied in with the long hoped for upgrade of the Ely North Junction – the government has been lobbied to fund the improvements which are needed to allow more capacity on the lines.
Not only would the upgrade increase freight train numbers, but would allow for more frequent trains at stations including Manea.