Bridgeclear Limited of Crewe, has a new web site which includes all the company’s products and a video introduction to the Bridgeclear product.

Bridgeclear Ltd will be exhibiting at the CV show at the NEC in Birmingham on 25-27 April. This will be Bridgeclear’s 5th year at the show. You will find us at stand 5078, where we will be demonstrating our low bridge warning systems.

Bridgeclear has recently become a National Allied member of the Road Haulage Association.

Bridgeclear was one of the exhibitors at the very successful first Motor Transport Fleet Management Conference at Aston Villa, Birmingham on 22nd February. Bridgeclear was also sponsoring this event, and demonstrated both the standard Bridgewatch system and the Bridgewatch reversing camera system.

The Bridgewatch System has just been updated to increase the relevance of warnings given to drivers. Before this update, the Bridgewatch System warned drivers of bridges under the roads they were travelling on, but the update means these under-bridges can be ignored, and therefore improve the relevance of warnings given.

Translink have placed a follow-on order with Alexander Dennis for 29 more Volvo/ALX400 double-deckers. These will be specified with Bridgewatch, with the warnings incorporated into the CCTV systems.

After three years of extensive trials, Translink NI has ordered Bridgewatch units for their recent new builds of double-decker buses and coaches. James Erwin, Engineering Manager at Translink says:

“Bridgeclear offers the best standard of warning in relation to low bridges and bus station awnings, and we are looking to include other hazards in the system e.g. narrow roads and soft verges”

Harry Dunn, Technical Engineer at Translink commented:

“The system is robust and we have been pleased with the way in which Bridgeclear has developed the product with us.”

All 80 ALX400 double-decker buses delivered in 2005 from Alexander Dennis in Falkirk, Scotland were fitted during build. A further 25 double-decker coaches coming from Ayats in Spain for delivery in 2006 are also specified with Bridgewatch.

Future builds for Translink will also be specified with Bridgewatch.

The Metropolitan Police have taken delivery of a mobile careers unit (converted from an East Lancs-bodied Volvo B7TL), which includes a Bridgewatch low bridge warning unit.

A new Road Safety Bill is expected to impose fines of £5000 and a six-point endorsement for drivers who crash into rail bridges. As there are over 2000 bridge strikes a year in the UK, this means fines of over £10 million could be imposed.

Bridgewatch systems are inexpensive alternatives to such fines and endorsements, as they prevent bridge strikes from occurring by warning drivers of any low bridges they approach.

Bridgeclear’s Bridgewatch system was featured on the BBC News at 6pm and 10pm on Tuesday 13th July 2004. Interviews were held with Bridgeclear, Network Rail and Cheshire Police.