Bascule bridge lane reopens in Exeter but swing bridge closure remains
Repairs are complete on one bridge but drivers are being warned of more delays on the other
A lane on Exeter's Bridge Road bascule has reopened after essential repairs, but a separate closure on the neighbouring swing bridge will remain in place for at least another week.
The lane on the A379 bascule bridge had been shut since Monday 17th August after an inspection found problems with fixings beneath its aluminium deck.
Further investigations uncovered cracks and more extensive corrosion that could not be seen from the road surface.
Specialist contractors carried out further testing and repairs from beneath the bridge.
Following final safety checks, engineers confirmed the lane could reopen.
Devon County Council said closing the lane had allowed it to protect the bridge deck from excess weight while keeping traffic moving, but the restriction had led to increased congestion and delays, particularly at peak commuting times.
Swing bridge closure to continue
A lane on the adjacent swing bridge was closed in an emergency measure on Monday 14th September after some fixings in the road surface became loose.
According to the council, attempts to tighten the fixings were unsuccessful because the parts holding them within the concrete were also moving.
Engineers ruled out welding the loose bolts because this would not provide a lasting repair.
A specialist contractor has been booked to carry out further work overnight on Wednesday 23rd September, using an alternative method to make the fixings safe.
The lane closure will remain in place until this work has been completed, and will continue to affect traffic heading towards Marsh Barton from Countess Wear.
Drivers are being advised to allow additional time for their journeys.
Councillor Dan Thomas, Devon County Council's Cabinet Member for Highways, said: "We are pleased to be reopening the bascule bridge lane after our engineers and specialist contractors completed this essential work as quickly as it could safely be carried out.
"We know the closure caused delays, particularly at peak times, and are grateful to everyone for their patience. We also understand that people will be disappointed that the separate lane closure on the swing bridge must remain.
"Our engineers have ruled out a repair that would not last, and a specialist contractor will carry out further work next week. We will remove the lane closure as soon as the fixings have been made safe.
"Although the bascule bridge lane has reopened, these repairs are not a long-term solution to the challenges posed by an ageing bridge. We will continue to monitor both structures closely and carry out further work when needed."
Two ageing structures
The 54-year-old bascule bridge is a working lifting bridge, opened around thirty times a year to allow boats to travel along the Exeter Ship Canal.
Its design brings steel support beams and fixings into contact with its aluminium deck, and the council said this can cause galvanic corrosion when different metals are exposed to water or salt, a recognised issue with bridges of this type.
The neighbouring swing bridge is older still, built in 1936 with supporting beams made from steel plates held together by rivets, a construction method typical of the time.
In May 1944, British soldiers used the swing bridge and the nearby Countess Wear Bridge to rehearse capturing two similar bridges in Normandy, the Pegasus and Horsa bridges, ahead of D-Day.
With both bridges operating beyond their expected lifespans, Devon County Council consulted earlier this year on proposals to replace them.
In the meantime, engineers will continue to inspect and closely monitor the existing structures.