Work is set to begin on lowering the road that passes under “Britain’s most bashed bridge” on the A5 Watling Street, near Hinckley in Leicestershire, says the BBC.

Network Rail figures have shown the bridge was struck 22 times between 1 April 2024 and 31 March 2025, confirming its status as the most often struck bridge in the country.

A temporary traffic regulation order said the road lowering would be part of a wider series of highways works set to start on 5 May and take up to a year.

Hinckley and Bosworth MP Luke Evans said he had been told the road lowering would take place in the summer holidays over a two-week period.

The road lowering plan was approved when permission was granted for a large logistics park near the bridge in June 2023.

Developer Mountpark said it would fund the project and the firm’s senior development director Tom Kilmister said the order had been agreed with National Highways.

“The schedule of works includes delivery of the new signal-controlled site access, upgrades to Dodwells Roundabout, enhanced pedestrian and cycle connectivity, and the lowering of the A5 carriageway beneath the railway bridge,” Kilmister said.

“By addressing this long-standing bottleneck, Mountpark will deliver lasting improvements to safety, reducing disruption and improve reliability for the local community and the wider road network.”

Kilmister said the firm was working closely with Network Rail, National Highways and Leicestershire County Council highways bosses on the scheme.

(Picture: Mapillary)