Two vans became the 116th and 117th vehicles to strike the Stuntney Road bridge in Ely.

Ely Standard: Later in the afternoon a white Luton van got stuck under the Ely railway bridge.Later in the afternoon a white Luton van got stuck under the Ely railway bridge. (Image: Archant)

The first incident saw the A142 at Station Road blocked both ways at Queen Adelaide Way on Thursday June 21 for around 75 minutes when a van got stuck underneath the railway bridge.

Just 30 minutes later a delivery van was seen being backed out from under the same bridge by police officers.

One person said on Facebook: “They need some free swinging signs/bar-at-height before the bridge to give them the bump needed that they are not exempt.”

A second replied: “I’ve been told that they used to but they were taken down for fear of someone hitting them hard enough to bash them into oncoming traffic.”

Ely Standard: Lorry becomes 116th vehicle to strike Ely railway bridgeLorry becomes 116th vehicle to strike Ely railway bridge (Image: Archant)

In a separate incident yesterday afternoon (June 21) a driver on his way home from work stopped to get a photo of a van trying to get under the bridge.

They said: “The ladders on the top of their van started scraping against the bridge, so they stopped.

“Then one man got out to help guide the driver through. It barely fit.”

A third person questioned how and why people are still hitting the bridge, writing: “What is it about fluorescent marking, a sign saying ‘warning very low bridge’, 115 precious railway bridge strikes - all documented in newspapers or online - that people still manage to ignore all notices and warnings and plough on regardless?

“The next person should lose their licence for careless driving,” they added.

A fourth added: “This has been going on for 48 years since I have lived here, my husband has lived in Ely all his life. Let’s hope the new by pass will sort it out.”

Earlier this month there were two separate incidents where vehicles collided with the same bridge in the space of just one week.

The first involved a white van, the second saw a yellow Mercedes Sprinter van get stuck in the same spot.

Despite numerous warning signs, van and HGV drivers continue to underestimate the height of the bridge, which was crowned the UK’s most bashed bridge in an informal annual ‘competition.

Network Rail says it has spent over £100,000 in the past five years on repairs.