CCTV cameras planned for Stonea underpass on the Sixteen Foot dubbed the country’s ‘most-bashed’ bridge

An infamous local bridge is set to get CCTV cameras fitted later this year in a move branded as “big brother” by residents.

Cambridgeshire County Council and Network Rail are working together on the scheme to put the cameras on Stonea underpass – regularly dubbed Britain’s most-bashed bridge – although last year it was ranked joint second.

Officially Network Rail said the bridge had been hit 17 times in the previous 12 months when it revealed the top ten of bashed bridges in November last year.

The figure meant Incidents at the Stonea bridge, which carries the railway across the Sixteen Foot drain and road, was down year-on-year, but it was still hit nearly more than any other nationally.

And according to locals it probably still is the most hit as many of the more minor collisions go unreported, like one involving a van on Tuesday afternoon.

In February 2021 Network Rail engineers repaired the notorious bridge, installing a new protection beam.

The new beam was designed to withstand future bridge strikes, making it stronger than before. This extra protection helps minimise disruption to rail and road traffic as a result of future strikes.

Cambridgeshire County Council also updated the warning road signage with its new height of two metres. That’s 10cm lower than before the installation of the new protection beam.

The road signage installed by the county council is large and bright, but despite this, the bridge is still hit with surprising regularity.

Now the two authorities have come up with a plan to introduce the cameras.

A Cambridgeshire County Council spokesperson said: “We’re working with Network Rail and VivaCity to install cameras at Stonea underpass junction, as part of our ongoing efforts to reduce bridge strikes at this location.

“The cameras will collect general traffic data and specific data on bridge strikes and near misses. We’re aiming for them to be in place by the spring.”

The spokesperson added: “Collecting and reviewing data on bridge strikes and near misses, will help us better understand the reasons bridge strikes occur. This will actively inform any future actions we take at the location, in partnership with Network Rail.”

Louise Stephenson, who lives close to the underpass and is one of a number of residents who regularly raise concerns about the bridge safety, questioned what good the cameras would do.

She fears the data collected maybe used to prosecute drivers, and could end up being more of a cash-cow than a realistic solution to the problem – however the council spokesperson said this would not be the case.

Louise believes the best solution is even more signage which is set further away from the bridge to give drivers even better warning of the bridge’s low height.

“The problem is not everyone knows how high their vehicle is. The bridge is much lower than most people encounter and so they get to the underpass, realise their car or van is too high to fit under and then they are stuck trying to back up, with a stream of cars behind them,” said Louise.

“Impatient drivers try to overtake by going over the railway crossing to pass slower vehicles going under the bridge, it is a wonder we have not had more fatal accidents too be honest, as they try to race ahead down the slip roads,” she added.

Louise would like to see some kind of sign or device installed that allows drivers to understand the lowness of the bridge and agrees that something like the hanging signs found at car park entrances could be worth a try.

She said: “I believe prevention is the best solution, and it would be better to look at more warning signs than installing cameras. I would like to know how much they are costing, who is paying for them and who is going to monitor them.

“It seems to be an expensive exercise and the money would be better spent improving safety at Boots Bridge, than monitoring people hitting the bridge, or being faced to back up and turn round. I don’t understand what purpose the camera will serve. It really just smacks of big brother is watching you.”

Sean Gray who took the pictures of the Mick George van after its run in with the bridge yesterday afternoon also has reservations about the cameras.

He said: “They will record what has happened and not prevent it. I live on this road. When it was last shut it had a massive impact on people lives. Quick fixes will not work.

“I also think the minority that live next to the bridge should not be dictating what happens.”