Bridge safety slated

Jan 15 2008 by Dan Warburton, The Journal

A LEADING engineer last night criticised the safety of a bridge where a pick-up truck ploughed through safety barriers and plunged 70ft.

Dr John Knapton, 56, an ex-professor of structural engineering at Newcastle University, raised concerns after Steven Leightley’s Isuzu Trooper careered through crash barriers on the A1(M) after being in collision with a car.

The truck fell 70ft but landed on all four wheels on the south embankment of the River Wear, leaving it a mangled wreck.

Mr Leightley, a father-of-two from Bedlington, survived the crash with only knocks and grazes, but pressure is now mounting on authorities to strengthen the safety fences.

Dr Knapton said: “In the light of the rise in the number of heavier vehicles on the road, there needs to be a re-examination of the barriers used in this country.

“These barriers are only designed to stop cars, anything heavier will go straight through.

“This is one of the problems with people driving larger cars. The barriers are not designed for the heavier trucks, but that didn’t matter in the old days when there were fewer people driving them.

“One of two things has to happen. People have to be discouraged from buying these vehicles, or the barriers have to be improved to withstand the impact of heavier vehicles.”

While Durham Police continue to carry out routine inquiries, Mr Leightley, 38, was recovering from the accident at his Northumberland home.

Dr Knapton explained that the barriers on the A1(M) where Mr Leighton’s truck left the carriageway, just south of junction 63 at Chester-le-Street, were conventional parapets made to the standards of the Department of Transport.

They are designed to withstand car crashes made at an angle of 15 degrees and at speeds of 80 to 90 miles per hour.

A spokesman from the Highways Agency said that accidents involving larger vehicles were random and infrequent.

He added: “As far as we are concerned the parapet, which was installed in 1998, conforms to all current standards.

“We do regularly review our policy in the light of changing vehicle fleets and incidents occurring on the network.”