Leeds bridge collapse: A64 demolition works sees 120-tonne bridge fall from crane and crush a truck
Huge 120-tonne bridge falls from crane and crushes truck below as it was being lifted during work on new flyover in Leeds city centre
A 120-tonne bridge has fallen from a crane with chunks of debris falling onto the street and crushing a truck below.
The incident took place in Regent Street, Leeds as contractors worked on the A64 bridge replacement works that will see a new £31million flyover installed in the city centre.
It is understood the huge structure was being moved by a crane yesterday evening when it came crashing to the ground and leveled a large truck below it.
A chunk of the concrete bridge had been ‘safely placed onto a heavy load trailer’, but a ‘failure’ caused it to move from its resting position, according to Leeds City Council.
The Regent Street Inner Ring Road had been closed since yesterday evening for ‘bridge demolition works’.
It is understood the 120-tonne bridge was being moved by crane when it came crashing to the ground and crushed a large truck below. Pictured: The scene in Regent Street, Leeds last night
The Regent Street Inner Ring Road (above) had been closed since yesterday evening for ‘bridge demolition works’ as part of the city’s £31million flyover upgrade project
In a statement posted to Twitter this morning Leeds City Council explained a concrete chunk of the bridge had been ‘safely placed onto the heavy load vehicle’
An eyewitness explained to LeedsLive: ‘120 tonne section of the A64 bridge replacement has just collapsed on the truck from the crane.’
The works were due to last the next four weekends, until 5.30am on Monday June 7.
The Inner Ring Road site site was set to reopen on Monday, but pictures from this morning show the area has been fenced off.
In a statement posted this morning, Leeds City Council said: ‘Essential work to demolish and rebuild the northern section of Regent Street Flyover is currently ongoing.
‘Last night, a concrete section of the demolished bridge was being lifted onto a specialist trailer to be disposed of and recycled away from site.
‘It was safely placed onto the heavy load vehicle however there was failure of the trailer, causing the piece of bridge to shift from its resting position.
‘It is now being broken up for safe removal and will be cleared from the site by lunchtime today.
The council has also since confirmed there were no injuries as a result of this incident.
Pictures from this morning show the road remains fenced off and debris that has been left in the wake of the incident
Work on the Leeds Regent Street £31million flyover project began last May and are expected to last two years. Pictured: Part of the 120-tonne structure shown this morning
Work on the Leeds Regent Street flyover project, that is estimated to cost £31million, began last May and is expected to last two years.
As part of the upgrade scheme, the 60-year-old bridge that supports the A64 Inner Ring Road over the A61 Regent Street will need to be demolished.
This is a developing story, with more details to come as we get them.
