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Cameras monitor one of Britain's most-hit bridges

John Devine,in Stoneaand
Harriet Heywood,Cambridgeshire
News imageCambridgeshire Police The back of a silver van that has become stuck under a bridge. The back doors have been wedged against the bridge - which has bright yellow stripes and yellow letters reading, Low bridge - 2.0m - 6'-6''.Cambridgeshire Police
The two-metre (6ft 6in) Stonea underpass, on the B1098 between Chatteris and March, goes under the main Ely to Peterborough railway line

New traffic camera systems have been installed to monitor one of Britain's most frequently struck railway bridges.

Network Rail said the Stonea Road bridge, near March in Cambridgeshire, was the joint second "most bashed", with 17 strikes recorded between 2023 and 2024 - although residents believe the true number is much higher.

The two-metre-high (6ft 6in) structure would be monitored for at least three months before a decision was made on whether to take further action, said the county council.

Denise Martin, who has lived in Stonea for 11 years, said it was an "excellent idea", with the number of road closures caused by incidents becoming a "total nightmare".

News imageJohn Devine/BBC Denise Martin is standing inside a room and smiling at the camera. She has ginger hair that has been put in a side ponytail to the right of her head. She is wearing rectangular framed glasses and a black top.John Devine/BBC
Denise Martin said there was a lot of signage at the bridge, but "people just don't seem to read it"

The new cameras aim to monitor the location and collect data, such as general traffic information and near-misses.

Cambridgeshire County Council said reviewing this data would help it better understand the reasons why bridge strikes occur.

Resident Bill Nattrass said although there had been many bridge strikes, there were also numerous near-misses.

"Sometimes you have to stop, you can't fit two modern-day cars underneath," he said.

Ms Martin, 59, added: "When the bridge is shut it is a total nightmare.

"People cant see the signs or aren't reading them properly. It clearly states the height but they still go under and next thing we know, it is all shut."

A local lorry driver said the actual number of bridge strikes per year was likely closer to 40 or 50, rather than the reported 17.

"After hundreds of strikes over the years you have to stop blaming drivers and start blaming the infrastructure," said James Fuller.

"[The cameras] are an absolute waste of time and money... it has been hit hundreds of times over the years, do you really need data to work out 50mph is too quick?"

News imageJohn Devine/BBC A lorry passing over a level crossing - which is over the bridge and railway. The bridge is lower down to the right of the crossing and has large yellow letters, reading "low bridge". Between the two is a long metal pole with lights on top and a small white camera high up - facing down on to the road and bridge. John Devine/BBC
The cameras are situated on a long pole next to the bridge

Cambridgeshire County Council said the road would be monitored so it could "draw proper conclusions" and identify if there was a need to carry out further works.

Stephen Deaville, from Network Rail, said an impact protection beam had been installed to protect the bridge from strikes.

"Network rail runs, operates and maintains the railway structure which does include the rail bridge that goes over the road," he said.

"It also includes the manual level crossing which is next to the underpass... we don't maintain or operate the road network."

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