Road Bridge Heights ??

[lewes]

I have tried a google search and get a couple of answers but does anyone know the clearance we should allow when HGV's are travelling under bridges on normal UK A roads??

[Nickyboy]

How do you mean exactly?

[bigwheel]

The only laid down Standard Minimum height is solely for Motorways. 16'6"

A-roads do not have a minimum height requirement, therefore route planning required if a driver is not familiar with a route.

Plenty of examples of "Low Bridges" on major arterial trunk A-roads.

Edited by bigwheel on Tuesday 2nd June 21:55

[lewes]

Just to clarify....

Say I loaded some plant on the rear of a low loader, what would be the maximum height I should be ensuring the plant doesn't exceed for normal A-Roads and Motorways??

I appreciate that low bridges would have signage to indicate a low height but what is the norm??

[bigwheel]

You could "guess" at 14'0" but as a responsible O-Licensed haulier "of good repute" (see where I'm going with this?) you've really got to check-out un-known routes. Bridges under 16'6" must be marked with the height.

To repeat, there are lots of "Low Bridges" on major routes eg. there's a 13'5" bridge in the Luton/Bedford area.

Plenty of bridge-strikes by hauliers who thought "It'll be alright". Railway bridges have £huge financial £consequences.

[Nickyboy]

There is no "maximum" height, it is just governed by the route you take and the height of your load. You'll find power lines etc will be 16"6 or higher unless you're in a town, it also not just bridges you have to look out for but overhangs from buildings etc, they're rarely marked.

[truck71]

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploa...

This may help.

[Humper]

You can end up with some pretty streamers on the load too after passing through a town on Gala Week with a higher than average load....

[bigwheel]

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploa...

[All that jazz]

lewes said:

Just to clarify....

Say I loaded some plant on the rear of a low loader, what would be the maximum height I should be ensuring the plant doesn't exceed for normal A-Roads and Motorways??

I appreciate that low bridges would have signage to indicate a low height but what is the norm??

All major roads and motorways are a minimum of 5 metres unless marked. Many unclassified roads won't have height markers on bridges so common sense required in that situation.

[Silent1]

bigwheel said:

You could "guess" at 14'0" but as a responsible O-Licensed haulier "of good repute" (see where I'm going with this?) you've really got to check-out un-known routes. Bridges under 16'6" must be marked with the height.

To repeat, there are lots of "Low Bridges" on major routes eg. there's a 13'5" bridge in the Luton/Bedford area.

Plenty of bridge-strikes by hauliers who thought "It'll be alright". Railway bridges have £huge financial £consequences.

I went under a 11' bridge (iirc) near marston moretaine in the tractor the other week, that was squeaky bum time!