WORKERS coned off part of the £21.6million Twin Sails Bridge after a moped rider reportedly collided with metal on the carriageway, it has emerged.

Borough of Poole strategic director Jim Bright told the Daily Echo the small section was cordoned off following the accident last Monday.

Investigations are now ongoing to determine if it was a bridge defect that caused the crash, which left a 22-year-old man needing hospital treatment, or if any damage was sustained because of the accident.

Mr Bright confirmed: “A small area of the bridge carriageway has been coned off following an accident last week. This is a precautionary measure while investigations into the accident are carried out.”

Dorset Police refused to speculate on the cause of the crash, but were able to confirm a Poole man was taken to hospital as a precaution following a single vehicle accident around 7.15pm last Monday.

Police also confirmed officers who attended the scene contacted Borough of Poole engineers so checks could be carried out on the carriageway.

The area concerned is so small it has had no impact on subsequent traffic movements. However, one witness to the aftermath said screws on a metal plate on the road surface were protruding after the smash.

Paramedics took the rider, who sustained cuts and bruises, to Poole Hospital as a precautionary measure. No other vehicle was involved in the accident.

When the Daily Echo visited the bridge, yesterday, a small area remained coned off. Earlier in the week engineers were working nearby on an unrelated issue.

Mr Bright explained: “Our contractor is undertaking work to repair a defect in the footpath of the Twin Sails Bridge.”

Engineers have been checking drainage trays and, where necessary, re-sealing them. Access to these drainage trays is via the footpath decking.

The Twin Sails Bridge, which opened earlier this year, is part of the Olympic Torch relay route.