Motorway tailbacks after bridge shunt (From Worcester News)

Motorway tailbacks after bridge shunt

4:02pm Thursday 11th March 2010 in

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DRIVERS were caught up in tailbacks after a lorry carrying a crane clipped motorway bridges.

The Highways Agency and police initially shut Junction 3 of the M42, north and southbound after the lorry’s load hit the underside of the junction’s bridge at about 12.40pm today.

But traffic engineers quickly realised the crane may have clipped other junctions and shut the stretch of motorway northbound back to junction with the M5 at about 2.45pm.

The Highways Agency were satisfied there was no permanent damage and reopened the carriageways later in the day. One lane of the M42 at Junction 3 northbound remains closed for inspection.

“There were no major tailbacks and no serious congestion,” said an agency spokesman.

“The structure is ok but we’ve got to make completely sure so there is still a single lane closure at Junction 3 of the M42.”

He added the lorry’s load had been “too high” to clear the overhead bridges.