CRACKING MANOEUVRE: Uber vehicle crashes into medieval bridge causing cracked bridge to close

Image credit: Warwickshire County Council

Bidford-on-Avon’s historic bridge has been closed to vehicles following a serious incident where an Uber driver crashed a white Toyota Prius into the medieval structure.

The crash caused significant damage, leaving the vehicle wedged into the bridge, resulting in a major disruption to local traffic.

The accident occurred on the B4085 Honeybourne Road, where the vehicle struck the inner side of the bridge. The impact caused considerable damage to the parapet and cutwater, both critical components of the bridge’s support system. Engineers have since closed the bridge to all vehicles to allow for a thorough assessment of the damage.

Scaffolding has been erected to facilitate a detailed inspection of the stonework. Once the extent of the damage has been fully assessed, a timetable for repairs will be issued. In the meantime, the bridge remains accessible to pedestrians and cyclists.

For drivers needing access to the village, car parks are available on both sides of the bridge, with facilities at Big Meadow to the south and Saxon Fields to the north, both within a short walk to the village centre.

In response to the closure, National Grid has postponed planned resurfacing works at Binton Bridge in Welford-on-Avon, allowing motorists to use Barton Road as a diversion route during the repair period.

Cllr Jan Matecki, Portfolio Holder for Transport and Planning at Warwickshire County Council, said: “I’m very grateful to County Council officers who worked with the Police over the weekend to stop any other vehicles from trying to use the bridge. It was very quickly sealed off, preventing any additional damage to the structure while its bearing capacity is compromised. 

“Unfortunately, we don’t yet know when the bridge will reopen. In the meantime, I would ask drivers to please bear with us and follow the signed diversions. We fully understand the inconvenience this will bring, and we will do all we can to ensure the bridge is safely reopened as soon as possible. 

“I’d also like to extend our thanks to National Grid who deferred work at Welford to allow us to use the road by Binton Bridge as a diversion.”