STATION Road in Taunton was closed after a lorry became stuck under the railway bridge.

The vehicle carrying a Viridor skip hit the structure shortly before 4pm.


UPDATE: 7.45pm, The road is still closed.

The lorry's tyres have been deflated and the high back of the vehicle removed from under the bridge.

They are awaiting a recovery vehicle to reinflate the vehicle tyres before it can be fully moved and the road reopened. This is set to take place imminently.


UPDATE: 8.45pm, the road has reopened and traffic cleared.


Leonor Hill, who was driving home from work, saw the incident.

She said: "It looked too tall to get under the bridge and sure enough there was a great smashing noise and the pigeons were flying everywhere."

Somerset County Gazette:

Buses of Somerset has advised passengers that some buses will be re-routed, resulting in delays and cancellations.

A company spokesman said: "Station road is CLOSED due to a lorry stuck under the bridge. Services 25 and 28 will use Greenway Road, Priorswood Road, The O'Bridge, and right onto Priory Bridge road. Town services will use Priory Bridge road and The O'Bridge."

"This will cause delays and potential cancellations."

Somerset County Gazette:

Police have sealed off the approach to the bridge as efforts are made to remove the lorry, with motorists reporting the area is gridlocked.

A police officer at the scene said there looked to be minimum damage to the bridge, but that Network Rail's assessor would be carrying out an inspection and taking measurements just in case.

Once the lorry's tyres are reinflated, the police will take height measurements if found to be in excess of the bridge warning signs, the driver will be issues with a penalty for motoring offences.

Somerset County Gazette:

FLASHBACK: The bridge has been hit by lorries a number of times - including this incident a few years ago