‘Miracle’ cars not fallen off bridge – councillor

0Bank Bridge on the A59 was struck three times in the space of six weeksA councillor has said it is an "absolute miracle" cars have not fallen off a bridge and into the river after it was struck three times in the space of six weeks.

Thomas de Freitas is urging highways bosses to extend the safety barrier on Bank Bridge on the A59 in Tarleton, which forms part of a main route between Preston and Southport.

Concrete blocks were used to plug a gap at the side of the bridge after the most serious of the incidents in July, but within a month the blocks were struck.

The West Lancashire North county councillor said "potentially, it's just a matter of time" before a vehicle falls into the River Douglas, which the crossing spans.

The bridge, which lies close to the border between West Lancashire, Chorley and South Ribble, stands just beyond a sharp right-hand bend for Southport and Liverpool-bound traffic.

de Freitas warned that pedestrians could be in danger from drivers losing control at the blackspot.

An advisory 30mph (48kmh) limit is in place on the approaches, from both directions, within what is otherwise a 40mph (64kmh) stretch of road.

In the short-term, de Freitas has called on Lancashire County Council to lengthen a metal safety barrier on the westbound side of the road while investigating a long-term solution, such as building a brand new bridge, the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) said.

"It's a couple of metres further up [that the accidents are happening] – so the crash barrier itself barely ever gets hit," de Freitas said.

"Extending the barrier would make it safer, because vehicles wouldn't risk going into the water – and it would protect pedestrians as well, [especially with there being] a kindergarten just a couple of hundred yards away."

He added that the issue was not solely one of safety, but that it also had economic implications – because of the disruption to the local road network when repairs to the bridge have to be carried out.

The LDRS has approached Lancashire County Council for a comment.

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