B4176 near Telford reopens three months after lorry bridge crash

The B4176 from Rudge Heath and Sutton Maddock, commonly known as the 'Rabbit Run', had been closed since the end of July while major bridge repairs were carried out by Shropshire Council. Traffic was diverted through Bridgnorth while the work took place.

The work to Broad Bridge, over the River Worfe at Stableford, follows a crash a year ago, when a lorry smashed into a parapet before landing in the water. The 50-year-old driver was taken to New Cross Hospital in Wolverhampton.

Temporary concrete barriers were erected in early December last year, but at the end of July the road was closed to allow for the repairs.

The upstream parapet of the grade II listed sandstone bridge has been rebuilt using mainly new stone.

The bridge was open today with temporary traffic lights, which are due to be removed later this week.

The work is estimated to have cost £50,000.

Resident Jack Fullwood, of nearby Stableford Hall, called for safety measures to be imposed along the road, which is the main commuter route from Dudley to Telford.

Mr Fullwood said motorists travelled too fast on the stretch of the road and called on the authorities to do something.

However, Councillor Michael Wood said the area was not an accident black spot, and safety measures did not need to be carried out.

He said: “The statistics for accidents on that stretch of road do not justify any safety action being taken.

“Also the bridge is the actual listed bridge, so if there were to be any work carried out it would cost around £1 million to do so.”

Suggestions of safety improvements for this stretch of road have included widening the bridge to enable it to carry two lanes of traffic, improved signage and the installation of traffic lights at either side.

Repairs to potholes along the route have also been carried out while the road was closed.