Maidenhead & Windsor

Heavy goods vehicles of more than 13 tonnes will be diverted away from Maidenhead's Gardner Road rail bridge with the introduction of a new weight restriction from next week.

The 13 tonne gross vehicle weight limit, together with a 6m width restriction, is being introduced for safety reasons following a joint inspection of the bridge by Network Rail and the Windsor and Maidenhead Royal Borough.

The inspection showed that parts of the bridge structure need strengthening and the weight restriction will be in force until the necessary work can be carried out by Network Rail.

The weight limit and road narrowing will not affect emergency vehicles or bus services but will require HGVs over 13 tonnes to take alternative routes (mainly via the A404 and A4). The Windsor and Maidenhead council is organising for diversion signs to be placed on all approach roads so that drivers are given plenty of warning about the new restrictions.

Stephen Brown, the council's head of Windsor and Maidenhead highways and engineering, said: "Parts of the bridge structure have deteriorated and the restrictions are necessary to ensure the safety of the travelling public. We are working very closely with Network Rail to ensure that the majority of vehicles can use the bridge as normal.

"We envisage that the restrictions will not have any appreciable effect on anyone other than drivers of HGVs over 13 tonnes and we will be making very sure that diversion signs are prominently displayed to give drivers plenty of warning."

The Gardner Road rail bridge (B4447) carries traffic from the Magnet roundabout in Maidenhead north to Cookham, crossing the Cookham/Bourne End branch line just before its junction with Switchback Road North. The restrictions will be introduced as soon as the erection of diversion signs is complete.

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead