The Luton topper! - Broughton Hall Road, Broughton, Chester.
Despite the warning signs and the height sensor activated warning lights on the approach to this low height bridge, it continues to catch unwary drivers of high-sided vans out. Over the years, I've literally lost count of the number of drivers who have been caught unawares. The most recent include a supermarket refrigerated home delivery van and a UPVC windows fitter's van, which provided great amusement to the local kids on their way home from the nearby junior school. The 7' 9" height warning sign has recently been replaced following the supermarket van decapitation when the previous sign was caught up and mangled in the impact. In some of the incidents the Luton body had been ripped off the chassis and remained on one side of the bridge and the chassis and cowl of the van have been on the other side.
The road above is part of the slip road to junction 35A of the east-bound A55 and the access road to Broughton Shopping Park, it was built in the mid-70's to carry the old A55 from Hawarden to the then new 7 mile stretch of the A55 Chester Southerly by-pass to the A41 at Boughton Heath Chester.
Apart from the numerous low-bridge accidents which have occurred at the spot, the original Broughton Hall Road which now passes under the bridge was lowered and electric pumps were installed to cope with the drainage problem which often fail during periods of particularly heavy rain and the road which dips from both side becomes flooded and impassable. So I think it's fair to conclude that it is an example of poor planning and design.
The Luton topper! - Broughton Hall Road, Broughton, Chester.
Despite the warning signs and the height sensor activated warning lights on the approach to this low height bridge, it continues to catch unwary drivers of high-sided vans out. Over the years, I've literally lost count of the number of drivers who have been caught unawares. The most recent include a supermarket refrigerated home delivery van and a UPVC windows fitter's van, which provided great amusement to the local kids on their way home from the nearby junior school. The 7' 9" height warning sign has recently been replaced following the supermarket van decapitation when the previous sign was caught up and mangled in the impact. In some of the incidents the Luton body had been ripped off the chassis and remained on one side of the bridge and the chassis and cowl of the van have been on the other side.
The road above is part of the slip road to junction 35A of the east-bound A55 and the access road to Broughton Shopping Park, it was built in the mid-70's to carry the old A55 from Hawarden to the then new 7 mile stretch of the A55 Chester Southerly by-pass to the A41 at Boughton Heath Chester.
Apart from the numerous low-bridge accidents which have occurred at the spot, the original Broughton Hall Road which now passes under the bridge was lowered and electric pumps were installed to cope with the drainage problem which often fail during periods of particularly heavy rain and the road which dips from both side becomes flooded and impassable. So I think it's fair to conclude that it is an example of poor planning and design.