A person has been arrested after a Kendal bridge was damaged in a collision overnight.
Westmorland and Furness Council said around 10 metres of Nether Bridge’s parapet wall has been knocked into the river following the collision, which happened at around 1am.
Cumbria Police were called to the incident this morning and the driver of the vehicle was arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving. There were no reported injuries.
A council crew attended early this morning to secure the site and close the bridge.
Robust traffic management has been installed and an arrangement of concrete, water-filled and orange plastic barriers will close the southern, downstream, footway.
Signs will be in place to direct pedestrians to a safe crossing location. The bridge was closed this morning, but reopened to traffic at 10.03am.
Nether Bridge is a Scheduled Ancient Monument spanning the River Kent which has both Site of Special Scientific Interest and Special Area of Conservation environmental designations.
The next stage of works will be to recover any heritage stonework that has been knocked into the river, so that it can be reused in the repair where possible.
However, the council said it will need to arrange the necessary Habitat Regulations Assessment surveys and reports, and apply for Natural England Assent before it can do this.
The council added that recovery of the stone will likely take place early next week.
It added that it is too early to say when a permanent repair will be undertaken, but it is likely to take a number of months as it will require the appointment of a contractor experienced in high-profile heritage work.
Depending on the required access measures, it may also require Environment Agency consent and Natural England Assent.
