A MAJOR bridge connecting Ludlow with the south is set to be closed for at least three weeks.
Ludford bridge was badly damaged when it was struck by a lorry on Sunday evening (February 21) at just before 9pm.
Shropshire Council received a call from the Police via its Customer Service Centre at 9.50pm.
 A large hole had been made in the bridge wall by a vehicle.   
The hole is substantial and has also disturbed the adjoining wall and its attachment to the road surface.
 As a safety measure the road and bridge was closed at 10.15pm to all vehicles.  
However, it was decided that it was safe for pedestrians to cross using the opposite side of the bridge.
Barriers were put up to direct pedestrians and prevent vehicle access.  
Shropshire Council has put in diversions along the A49 and into Ludlow via Henley Road and Gravel Hill, due to a height restriction on the railway bridge. 
Ludford remains to people crossing on foot.. 
 Inspections of the bridge have been undertaken by both our structural team and bridge engineers.  
There is some emergency work required before the bridge can safely be used by vehicles and Shropshire Council say it looks like the road will need to be shut to vehicles for at least three week to undertake the necessary repairs.
Ludford Bridge is a major route linking the town to Leominster and Hereford to the south on the B4361.
It is a historic monument and this will affect the repairs that have to be made. 

 

HISTORIC Ludford Bridge has been damaged.
It is believed that the bridge that is on the main route bringing traffic into Ludlow from the south was damaged after being struck by a heavy lorry at just before 9pm on Sunday (February 21).
It has been closed to traffic and a diversion has been put in place via Sheet Road. However, pedestrians are still being allowed to cross suggesting that the damage is not believed to be structural.
The bridge featured in the War of the Roses and because of its history will be inspected by both highways engineers and heritage experts.
Part of the parapet adjacent to Walkmill has also been knocked into the river.
“The damage doesn’t look structural but it must have been quite a hard hit to do this much damage,” said Andy Boddington, who represents Ludlow on Shropshire Council.
Because the bridge is so narrow and only allows single file traffic controlled by signals it has been struck by large vehicle a number of times in the past.

Thanks to Andy Boddington for the pictures.