The country’s most-struck rail bridge has claimed yet another victim, this time slicing the roof off a campervan driving beneath the low-clearance viaduct in Canterbury.
By Jonathan Leask, Local Democracy Reporter
It comes just a month after the Tinwald Viaduct re-opened following repairs from a previous accident.
Police were called to the incident around 3.15pm on Wednesday, where the campervan had hit the viaduct as it drove through, with a spokesperson confirming the vehicle lost part of its roof.
Soon after a vehicle towing a caravan failed to get through the viaduct, impacting traffic as it had to reverse back out onto Melcombe St.
The vehicles were the latest in a long line of incidents at the viaduct, which has a clearance height of 2.39m.
KiwiRail has identified it as the most hit rail bridge in the country.
It had only reopened on December 18 after being closed for repairs following a major incident.
It was hit by an excavator being towed on a trailer in early July and subsequently closed on July 29 to wait for the cracked wooden overhead impact beam to be replaced.
The structure was reinforced with new concrete to hold up the upgraded steel impact beam.
A KiwiRail spokesperson said that since the bridge repairs were completed, “we have received one formal report of a bridge strike but we are aware anecdotally of other incidents”.
“We continue to liaise with Ashburton District Council, the road controlling authority for this section of road, about the bridge.
“As well as being a safety issue, bridge strikes cause cost and inconvenience to KiwiRail and to other road users.
“We urge drivers to observe all signs when approaching a bridge, and to be aware of the height of their vehicle and any load they are carrying.”
Council infrastructure group manager Neil McCann said the council is open to discussions with KiwiRail about the viaduct and has notified Google and suggested they modify their route recommendations.
“We’re going to replace the give way on the Melcombe St side of the viaduct with a stop sign, we are going to install additional signage aimed at campervans and caravans on the Melcombe St side of the viaduct, and we’re going to paint warnings on the road on the Melcombe St side of the viaduct.
“The road markings will be done early next week and the new stop sign installed at the same time.
“We’ll have to order in a custom-made sign for the campervans, so that will be installed at a later date.”
The campervan incident generated multiple social media posts and the commentary reignited the debate on what additional prevention measures could be introduced.
The suggestion for more signage was met with doubt as comments suggested the existing signs don’t seem to work.
Installing a gantry remains the popular suggestion, but the question remains who pays for it as the rail bridge is a KiwiRail asset and the road under it is council jurisdiction
Another solution is full closure, which many agree is the simplest and cheapest solution.
– LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.