Traffic halted after Dunragit railway bridge hit

By ALASTAIR DALTON
Published on 02/02/2013 14:15

BRITAIN’S most bashed bridge claimed another victim today when a lorry hit the Dunragit railway bridge near Stranraer, halting Ayr-Stranraer trains and closing the A75.

• Dunragit railway bridge is struck by lorry

• Ayr Stranraer trains halted and A75 closed

• Bridge has been hit 70 times in last eight years

The crash happened at 12:30pm despite a long-standing diversionary route for vehicles too tall to fit under the bridge over the main Dumfries-Stranraer road, which has been hit some 70 times in the last eight years.

The road is expected to remain closed for several hours while Network Rail engineers inspect the bridge for damage.

Construction of a bypass of Dunragit that would re-route A75 traffic away from the bridge is being prepared by Transport Scotland.

The latest incident also comes despite a £21,000 campaign to cut the number of such “bridge strikes” being launched by the Scottish Government three years ago. It is estimated such collisions cost £700,000 a year in damage and delays.