New weight restrictions have been introduced along a country road in Burnham-On-Sea amid concern that lorries and other heavy vehicles could damage a railway bridge.
Somerset County Council has introduced the new weight limit along Stoddens Lane over the past fortnight following an assessment of the strength of the brick-built railway bridge.
County Council spokeswoman Elizabeth Kulh told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “Edithmead Railway Bridge is owned and maintained by Network Rail Great Western Zone, however like most bridges, the surfacing over the bridge is maintained by Somerset County Council.”
“As part of the assessment programme carried out by Somerset County Council, this structure was assessed to have a certified load carrying capacity of 18t, and as a result of this a formal and legal Traffic Regulation Order (Weight Restriction) was arranged to prevent the use of vehicles over the certified capacity of the bridge crossing the structure.”
New warning signs have been installed at the bridge and at both ends of Stoddens Lane.
