An historic North Yorkshire bridge which has been closed since being struck by an HGV is due for a £40,000 repair as councillors look at ways of preventing it happening again.
Middleham Bridge has been shut since September 3 after the collision caused significant damage to its southern decorative arch, with specialist contractors now being brought in to carry out urgent repairs.
But longer-term changes are also being considered for the 1830 bridge, including raising the height of the arch by about 250mm to allow most HGVs to pass safely underneath.
The proposal is one of several options being explored following the latest collision, although any alteration to the historic structure would require listed building consent.
In the meantime, specialist contractor Wilf Noble Construction Ltd has been appointed directly to carry out urgent repairs, with the estimated £40,000 cost expected to be recovered through an insurance recharge.
The impact caused significant damage to the arch ring and dislodged stonework.
An attempt to carry out repairs the following day was abandoned after the arch was judged to be too unstable, and measures have since been put in place to prevent vehicles and pedestrians crossing the bridge.
Wilf Noble was selected without a competitive tender because the council wanted a contractor to be appointed immediately and work to begin as quickly as possible.
The company has previously worked on Middleham Bridge, including after similarly serious damage in 2008.
Council bridge manager Philip Richardson said in a briefing note: “The quickest option we believe would be to award to Wilf Nobles who did the works in 2008 as well as other repairs to this bridge as they have extensive experience with supporting and working on this arch.”
On the proposed raising of the arch, he added: "Increasing the height of the arch by approximately 250mm would mean that most vehicles would be able to pass safely through."
The 2008 repair was completed within a week of the damage occurring.
The latest work is expected to involve supporting the arch before locally replacing damaged stone.
The report says a more substantial repair, involving taking down and replacing stone above the arch, would be better but would take ‘significantly longer’ to complete.
The council is also looking at introducing a Traffic Regulation Order banning vehicles over 13ft from passing beneath the arch.
Officers say the existing height warning signs are not enforceable and are believed to be ‘regularly ignored’.
The bridge was built in 1830 with numerous modifications to the structure since.