A HIGHWAY maintenance worker said the damaged bridge, struck by a lorry in Basingstoke will cost “hundreds and thousands of pounds to repair”.

The crash took place on Thursday, April 16, after a lorry hit Battledown bridge on Pack Lane, causing the road’s closure.

Basingstoke Gazette: Scraps of metal were seen lying on the gravel after the crashScraps of metal were seen lying on the gravel after the crash

A highway maintenance employee said: “I received the call at 10.14am of significant damage caused to the bridge. There were two police units, one BTP, a highway maintenance van and railway services in attendance.

“It will cost hundreds and thousands of pounds to repair. It’s the worst I’ve ever seen. The main damage has been done to the girder. The bridge will look to be fixed in the next seven days.”

Metal scraps and nails were seen lying on the gravel, with sharp metal objects detached from the scraps of metal.

Train lines out of Basingstoke have re-opened since the lorry crashed into the bridge.

A message posted by South Western Railway, the service impacted, said that services running through Basingstoke station could be cancelled, delayed or revised.

Disruption is expected until 1pm this afternoon.