North Lanarkshire council are to work with Network Rail on an upgrade to Scotland’s most frequently struck railway bridge. The upgrade to the Cleland rail bridge should mean it is no longer hit by HGVs.
The railway bridge, located on the A73 near Cleland train station, is the most the seventh most struck in the UK. As Lanarkshire Council points out, each time a lorry strikes the bridge, the road and rail line must be closed to allow for an inspection to be carried out.
In order to avoid more accidents, the bridge’s deck will be replaced with a thinner alternative that offers additional headroom. Once the work is complete, lorries will be able to pass under it without any issues.
“We have been working with Network Rail for some time to identify how to remove the height restriction at Bellside Bridge, so it is excellent news that a solution has been found,” said Nicole Paterson, Head of Environmental Assets.
“This will prevent the disruption caused when a high-sided vehicle strikes the bridge, both to the rail line and to residents in Cleland when traffic is diverted through the village.”
Meanwhile, Stewart Lothian, Network Rail’s structures asset manager for Scotland, said:
“Vehicles striking bridges is a major cause of delay on Scotland’s Railway and also costs around half-a-million pounds each year in avoidable costs. This bridge is the most bashed in the country and has been struck 56 times over the last decade causing over 3,000 minutes of delay to trains. We are pleased to have been able to work with North Lanarkshire Council to find a long-term solution to this problem which will improve performance and enhance safety on our railway.”
Work on the upgrade, funded jointly by the council and Network Rail, is due to start in October. The A73 will have to be closed while the work is carried out.
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