QUEUES of traffic stretched for miles after a lorry hit a bridge on the A12.

The smash happened on the northbound carriageway of the road between the Ardleigh Interchange and the JobServe Community Stadium in Colchester.

The lorry was carrying a digger which then smashed into the bottom of the bridge shortly after 1pm yesterday.

Essex Police closed the road while structural engineers were sent to the scene.

Officers had warned people to brace for a lengthy closure.

Fortunately, the carriageway was able to be reopened within a couple of hours.

A spokesman for Highways England confirmed they had sent experts to the scene to assess the damage.

He said: “Essex Police stopped all traffic due to a bridge strike at the Severalls Lane overbridge on the A12.

“We asked please to use alternative routes where possible and sent a structural engineer and service provider to the crash site.

“We were able to recover the vehicle from the live lane and then reopen the road.”

No-one was badly hurt in the crash.

Gazette:

Nearby residents reported even hearing the crash as the lorry collided with the bridge.

Johan Mahoney-Berg captured the miles of queues in the wake of the smash.

He said: “I heard the sirens at roughly 1.45pm.

“I then saw some details online about a digger on a lorry hitting the Severalls Lane overbridge.

“I only live 100 metres from there so went out with my camera and there was traffic for miles.

“The digger on the back of the lorry hit the bridge.

“They have closed the road whilst recovery was sent for and to check how safe the bridge was.”

The bridge was clearly dented by the crash, however no restrictions have been put on traffic using it.