A HGV got trapped under the railway bridge on Holyhead Road

[dutchman]

The road was closed in both directions after a lorry hit the railway bridge this morning



There was major disruption on the roads and railways this morning after a HGV hit a bridge on Holyhead Road in Coventry.

The Scania HGV carrying a digger collided with the railway bridge heading out from the city centre and became trapped shortly before 10am.

In the wake of the collision rail services between Coventry and Nuneaton were halted and Holyhead Road was closed in both directions.

Although the road has reopened, rail services are still suspended.

The police set-up roadblocks and motorists were advised to find alternate routes in and out of the city.

West Midlands Fire Service sent a number of crews to the scene. Among them was its technical rescue unit, which used a winch to release the trapped HGV. Network Rail staff were also in attendance.

The truck had become trapped under the bridge due to the height of a five-tonne digger it was transporting.

After being released the truck and digger were removed to the nearby Alvis Retail Park.

The road remained closed for some time and was subsequently opened in one direction.

At around 3pm it was fully opened in both directions.

Prior to the road being reopened to traffic pedestrians were allowed to pass under the railway bridge.

Rail services remained suspended while rail engineers examined the bridge for any damage.

Today’s incident was not the first time the bridge has been struck by a lorry - despite a large ‘low bridge’ warning sign.

The digger on the truck was knocked out of position on the truck following the collision, which complicated the operation to remove it.

West Midlands Fire Service’s technical rescue unit used a winch to dislodge the digger from the bridge and it was harnessed in place on the back of the lorry so it did not topple out.

Shattered glass could be seen on the road from the impact of the collision.

The digger was then put back into its correct position on the lorry.