Devon County Council held workshops for stakeholders on 22 October 2025, at which they presented the emerging proposals for two new replacement bridges across the Exeter Ship Canal on the A379 dual carriageway. This followed from an announcement by the Department for Transport in July 2025 of a number of local authority road improvement schemes that were to be taken forward.
The new bridges will be bascule bridges, similar in concept to the existing bascule bridge on the eastbound carriageway but of modern design. They will replace the existing westbound steel swing bridge, built in the 1930s, and the eastbound bascule bridge, installed in the early 1970s, both of which are becoming life expired.
The air draft of the existing bascule bridge is larger than that of the existing swing bridge and IWA is keen for advantage to be taken of the rebuilding to increase the air draft of both bridges. IWA argues that the new bridges should provide sufficient air draft to permit a good number of leisure craft, including yachts with their masts lowered, to pass through without raising the bridges. Opening moveable bridges is not only time consuming but also holds up the traffic using the busy A379 dual carriageway.
Devon County Council has identified 5 options for replacing the existing bridges. Option 3 provides for the road surface to be raised by 1.7m and Option 4 provides for the road surface to be raised by 0.7m with an opportunity for incremental increases above this. IWA has a preference for Option 3 but Option 4 could also be supported if it results in leisure craft with an air draft of up to 3.0m being able to pass under the bridges.
The Council is currently assessing the comments made at the workshops, with a view to holding a public consultation in spring 2026.
PHOTO The A379 bridges at Exeter: swing bridge in the foreground, with superstructure of bascule bridge visible behind. (Photo: Sandy Wright)
