Work started this week to demolish a bridge over the M42 that has been hit 20 times in the last 10 years and twice in a single week.
The structure between junctions 7 and 6 was struck by two lorries using the motorway earlier this month. Since then the southbound carriageway has been reduced to two lanes for safety reasons.
National Highways added that it has been hit some 20 times in the last 10 years.
The bridge carries the A452 over the motorway but is now only used by HS2 construction crews. It was not HS2 lorries which struck the bridge.
Asset needs manager Greg Fernee said: ‘We and our colleagues at HS2 have carried out extensive investigations since the most recent bridge strikes.
‘We have considered whether a structural repair could be carried out, but as the bridge was already due to be demolished next year, and because it has been struck so many times despite exceeding minimum headroom requirements, the safest and most cost-effective way forward is to demolish the bridge now.’
The bridge will be removed under a full closure of the M42 from 9pm on Friday 9 February to 5am on Monday 12 February.
This will see the southbound carriageway closed from M42 Junction 9 to Junction 6, together with the link arm from M6 south to M42 south and the M6 north to M42 south arm.
The northbound carriageway will be closed between junction 6 and 7, including the link to the M6.
Before this, some utilities need to be diverted and an overhead gantry, four lighting columns, a CCTV camera and a number of roadside signal boxes need to be removed.
This will take place under full overnight closures from 9pm to 5am each weekday night, starting on Monday (29 January).
