Width restrictors causing traffic jams

[puggit]

Got caught in a traffic jam last night on the A4127 past Osterley Park in West London. First time I'd used this route...

Turns out the jam (about 20-30min delay) was caused by traffic queuing to get past a width restriction on a bridge over a railway - the type with two steel poles either side of the car.

Now - we all know it's illegal for local councils to impose traffic calming measures which slow the traffic down below the posted speed limit - does this count?

[tvrgit]

Don't know the road at all, but the width restriction could be for a number of reasons, for example:

Weak bridge so prevent lorries using it - a weight restriction should work, but if the bridge is so weak that ANY hgv's could damage it, then physical restriction might be necessary;

Bridge reasonably strong, but weaker at edges, so need to keep traffic to the middle;

History of parapet damage, and risk of masonry falling onto railway below;

to allow pedestrians to cross the bridge.

Can't think of any more at the mo - those are only some examples from others I can think of. The measures might be temporary until the bridge can be strengthened or replaced. Temporary might mean quite a long time until the authority get money from the govt to do it.

All bridges had to be inspected / re-assessed recently following the increase in EU-permitted weight limits (from 40 tonnes to 44 tonnes IIRC) and many were found to be well short of that, and for many, measures like these are all that coud be done, short of a complete closure.

Can we take the traffic-calming-paranoia hats off now??

[Zod]

isn't that one there just because it is an old, narrow railway bridge?

[puggit]

It is an old railway bridge (over the Paddington line) - many bridges in this area of West London have similar controls on them.

However - I just enjoy bashing councils in my spare time - so I thought I'd have a go at this too