11.05.2026

Bridge bashing

We have received reports and a picture of an aerial lift bridge bashing incident in Scotland last week.

The original message we received was just a picture and a rough location. A few local enquiries indicate that it happened on Thursday last week at a bridge under the West Highland railway line just south of Glenfinnan in Scotland.
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The photos we received do not show the height limitation sign, which normally warns motorists that the maximum vehicle height is 4.1 metres. Whether the impact pulled the sign off, or a previous incident had - we do not know.
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The height restrictions, normally also posted on the arch itself

4.1 metres should have been enough for the beaver tail truck transporting a Genie articulated boom, which came from the Ord rental fleet, but the boom pivot point smashed into the bridge. The truck must have been travelling at such a pace that the impact appears to have ripped the slew ring off the chassis or superstructure and pushed the boom lift off the side of the truck on one side.

No one was hurt in the incident, although traffic was disrupted, it also highlights the importance of route planning and careful driving. If anyone else can shed more details on this incident, please do let us know.