More signage to be added near Barton Lane bridge following bus crash
On Monday (21 July) the 100 bus collided with a bridge in Eccles, leaving three people with serious injuries and 17 others needing treatment at the scene
Last updated 23rd Jul 2025
Transport bosses in Greater Manchester are implementing extra measures following a bus colliding with a bridge in Eccles on Monday.
Shortly after 3pm on Monday, a double-decker Bee Network bus collided with a bridge – an aqueduct – on Barton Lane in Eccles.
The 100 service was carrying passengers but was not on its specified route. There was a swift response from emergency services, including Greater Manchester Police (GMP), Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) and the North West Ambulance Service (NWAS).
GMP confirmed on Tuesday that three people – a 19-year-old female, and two men, one in his 20s and another in his 40s – sustained serious injury and remain in hospital in a stable condition. 17 other casualties were also treated at the scene.
The driver of the bus – a man in his 50s – was arrested on suspicion of causing serious injury by careless driving and has since been bailed pending further investigations.
Following a series of site visits TfGM, Salford City Council and Peel have agreed several short-term measures to be implemented as soon as possible. This includes the installation of new and additional warning measures – including further signage – at and near the bridge, some of which (roadside signs) is already in place.
TfGM has written to the most senior leaders in each of the bus operators to seek reassurances about their operating practices, including training and procedures to mitigate against bridge strikes, and they are working with them to share best practices.
They have also written to all 10 local authorities and are in contact with other partners with responsibility for managing and maintaining low bridges to ask them to satisfy themselves and them that mitigating measures to prevent strikes are fit for purpose, and where they are not that steps are taken to rectify.
This will be managed through an existing forum that includes TfGM and highways teams from all 10 councils.
Work is underway to examine the potential of re-routing services away from the Barton Lane bridge. This is at a formative stage and will be discussed with Salford City Council and others.
Vernon Everitt, Transport Commissioner for Greater Manchester said: "First and foremost, our thoughts remain with all those who were involved and their families, as well as those who witnessed this deeply distressing event.
"It is impossible to comprehend how frightening and traumatic this must have been for everyone. We are working closely with GMP to make sure that everyone involved is receiving the support they need.
"We also want to thank everyone involved in the rapid and professional response to assist those in need. We want the very highest safety standards for the Bee Network, and the safety of everyone who uses and works on the Bee Network is, and always will be, our top priority."
Vernon added: "I attended the scene first thing on Tuesday morning alongside senior officers at Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM), who has begun its own urgent investigation, working with Stagecoach, Salford City Council as the local highway authority and Peel as the owner of the aqueduct. All information from this investigation will be shared with GMP to support their work."
GMP’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit is leading the investigation into the collision, which we are fully supporting. All available CCTV from the bus has now been recovered by the operator, Stagecoach, and provided to GMP to assist the investigation.