BIDFORD bridge is to remain closed indefinitely after being damaged by an Uber crashing into it and becoming wedged.
The car struck the inner side of the 15th century bridge, on the B4085 Honeybourne Road, before becoming jammed on Saturday August 10, damaging the parapet and cutwater, which form part of the bridge’s support structure.
The bridge has now been closed to all vehicles while engineers assess the damage and then organise a programme of repairs. Scaffolding has been erected to enable a closer inspection of the stone to assess the damage and the timescale for the repairs will be published once this has been completed. It will remain open for pedestrians and cyclists.
Drivers wishing to access the village’s businesses are advised that car parks are available to the south (Big Meadow) and north (Saxon Fields) of the bridge.
As a result of this closure, National Grid has deferred resurfacing work at Binton Bridge in Welford to offer motorists a diversion using Barton Road.
Warwickshire County Council’s transport spokesperson Coun Jan Matecki said: “I’m very grateful to county council officers who worked with the police over the weekend to stop any other vehicles from trying to use the bridge. It was very quickly sealed off, preventing any additional damage to the structure while its bearing capacity is compromised.
“Unfortunately, we don’t yet know when the bridge will reopen. In the meantime, I would ask drivers to please bear with us and follow the signed diversions. We fully understand the inconvenience this will bring, and we will do all we can to ensure the bridge is safely reopened as soon as possible.
“I’d also like to extend our thanks to National Grid who deferred work at Welford to allow us to use the road by Binton Bridge as a diversion.”
It is not known how the Uber became jammed but it is thought it may have clipped the side of the bridge which spun the car.
The Grade I listed bridge had to be previously closed in June 2015 for several months for repairs after an agricultural vehicle crashed into a wall of the structure.
The repair work cost some £390,000.
