A Grade II-listed bridge may take months to be repaired after being struck by a lorry.
A large section of parapet on Grove Bridge, in Hamsterley Forest, collapsed into Spurlswood Beck when it was hit by a quarry wagon on Monday, February 16.
The lorry is believed to have lost traction because of ice on the road.
It was delivering stone for a new cycle track in the forest.
Tonya Irving, who witnessed the incident, said: “How the driver managed to get the wagon off the edge and back onto the road I’ll never know. He had a lucky escape. It could have been far worse.”
County officers say it may take a while to make repairs because of the bridge’s listed status.
Strategic highways manager Paul Anderson said: “We were notified of the crash on Monday, February 16, and immediately worked to make the area safe and remove debris, after which we installed concrete barriers at the bridge to protect road users and ensure no further damage to the structure.
“We are now carrying out a full inspection of the damage caused, so we can plan repairs.
“As the structure is listed, approval of the materials to be used and the style of repair will be sought from the appropriate bodies.
“Because of the complexities surrounding the listed status of the bridge, it may be some months before we can carry out the repairs.”
