Technology installation to prevent bridge strikes
A new warning system is being installed to stop tall vehicles getting stuck under Langley railway bridge.
Sensors are being installed to measure the height of vehicles as they approach either entrance to the low bridge, in Station Road, Langley.
If the vehicle is measured by the sensors as too tall for the bridge an electronic sign will flash up to warn the driver. This will be in addition to the yellow and black hatched frame to the bridge which includes a circular red-rimmed warning sign stating the maximum height of vehicles that can safely pass under.
Langley railway bridge is a regular victim of bridge strikes with 33 reported strikes since 2014. This figure does not include unreported strikes where vehicles have scrapped through leaving tell-tale marks on the brightly coloured warning signs and roof of the bridge.
Every time a van or lorry becomes lodged, Langley quickly becomes gridlocked as engineers figure out how to remove it safely. The road can then be closed for longer as structural engineers examine the integrity of the bridge before deeming it safe to be reopened for motorists and pedestrians to use, as well as being safe for trains to use the track above.
Bridge strikes also cause huge disruption to the running of the main Great Western Railway line between the West Country to Paddington.
Preparation work is set to going ahead at the location for the signs to be installed at a later date.
The work is being conducted with partners Network Rail, Buckinghamshire County Council and Thames Valley Berkshire Local Enterprise Partnership, which helped fund the signs as part of Langley Station improvements.
Contractors will be working on the road for just a few hours at a time, off-peak, causing a minimum of disruption.
The signs which are situated on both sides of the bridge on Station Road, will only be illuminated when an oversized vehicle approaches and is measured as being too tall.
Chris Green, a traffic engineer major infrastructure projects, said: “This is a preventative measure to try and stop drivers squeezing under the bridge damaging it and causing disruption to the village.
“Bridge strikes can also cause chaos to the train system and could require Network Rail to make repairs which leads to further road closures.
“We hope residents will bear with us as we carry out this work which is intended to help prevent traffic problems in the future from a small number of motorists who ignore the signs.”
Sensors are being installed to measure the height of vehicles as they approach either entrance to the low bridge, in Station Road, Langley.
If the vehicle is measured by the sensors as too tall for the bridge an electronic sign will flash up to warn the driver. This will be in addition to the yellow and black hatched frame to the bridge which includes a circular red-rimmed warning sign stating the maximum height of vehicles that can safely pass under.
Langley railway bridge is a regular victim of bridge strikes with 33 reported strikes since 2014. This figure does not include unreported strikes where vehicles have scrapped through leaving tell-tale marks on the brightly coloured warning signs and roof of the bridge.
Every time a van or lorry becomes lodged, Langley quickly becomes gridlocked as engineers figure out how to remove it safely. The road can then be closed for longer as structural engineers examine the integrity of the bridge before deeming it safe to be reopened for motorists and pedestrians to use, as well as being safe for trains to use the track above.
Bridge strikes also cause huge disruption to the running of the main Great Western Railway line between the West Country to Paddington.
Preparation work is set to going ahead at the location for the signs to be installed at a later date.
The work is being conducted with partners Network Rail, Buckinghamshire County Council and Thames Valley Berkshire Local Enterprise Partnership, which helped fund the signs as part of Langley Station improvements.
Contractors will be working on the road for just a few hours at a time, off-peak, causing a minimum of disruption.
The signs which are situated on both sides of the bridge on Station Road, will only be illuminated when an oversized vehicle approaches and is measured as being too tall.
Chris Green, a traffic engineer major infrastructure projects, said: “This is a preventative measure to try and stop drivers squeezing under the bridge damaging it and causing disruption to the village.
“Bridge strikes can also cause chaos to the train system and could require Network Rail to make repairs which leads to further road closures.
“We hope residents will bear with us as we carry out this work which is intended to help prevent traffic problems in the future from a small number of motorists who ignore the signs.”
