Drivers racing through red warning lights at the £145 million Gull Wing Bridge in Lowestoft, Suffolk, are posing a safety risk, council officials have warned. The bridge, the largest rolling bascule bridge in the world, was officially opened last year by the Princess Royal and spans Lake Lothing.
The bridge is lifted by hydraulic cylinders to allow boats through, but some motorists have been ignoring red lights that signal imminent gate lowering and bridge raising. Suffolk County Council recorded 112 breaches of the red safety lights between March and July.
In one incident, a van collided with a barrier, leaving it inoperable and requiring urgent repairs to prevent disruption to road and marine traffic. The council is pursuing the cost of repairs from the company that owned the van.
No legal action for infringements has yet been issued, but the council is considering tougher measures, including installing automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras. Councillor Paul West, Suffolk County Council Cabinet member for Operational Highways, said: “Any red traffic warning light is there for a reason and to gamble on racing through them just to avoid a few minutes wait is highly irresponsible.”
Ben Cook, head of contract management and commissioning for the council, added: “While the numbers of red-light breaches remain relatively low, any instance of poor driver behaviour poses a risk to both safety and bridge operation.” The bridge spans 345 metres in total, with a main bascule span of 39.5 metres, and can accommodate marine vessels up to 32 metres wide when raised.
