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Blue bridge on the canal at Bonham Fields / Salmonpool Swing Bridge

JaneEvansJaneEvans
in General

Dear Canal Users

Urgent works are to be carried out on Salmonpool Swing Bridge throughout March with the bridge and Clapperbrook Lane East – crossing Exeter Ship Canal – closed to traffic.

The closure will start on Wednesday 3 March – and remain in place until Wednesday 31 March. The bridge is set to reopen on Thursday 1 April.

A temporary foot and cycle bridge will be installed over the canal this Friday 5th March. Any cars on the far side of the bridge will need to be removed before Thursday 4th March.

Canoeists and kayakers will still be able to paddle along the canal through the works area, although again there will be occasional temporary restrictions whilst craning works take place. Larger craft will be unable to pass up and down the canal at this point, as the temporary pedestrian bridge is a fixed structure.

The works will involve lifting the bridge out and into the Valley Park Car Park, where the steelwork will be sand-blasted inside a large ‘tent’ to control dust. It will then be repaired and repainted, with new decking and railings installed before being lifted back into place.

The works follow a detailed structural inspection of the bridge, and subsequent issues with the operation of the bridge which may have resulted in the bridge becoming inoperable if left unchecked.

Salmonpool Bridge is over 50 years old and this is the first time it has had to be lifted out for major repair work. These works are designed to avoid the need for similar works for another 50 years, and to enable the bridge to keep operating safely for users of the canal and Riverside Valley Park.

For the duration of the works, Clapperbrook Lane East will be closed to all public traffic and there will be no vehicular crossing of Exeter Canal at this location during the works.

The temporary pedestrian/cycle bridge will allow users of the valley park to continue using the facility with minimal disruption, although there will be a need for occasional short-term closures of the crossing for all users to allow for craning activities to take place safely.

The Council will make every attempt to keep to the timetable of works and minimise the disruption to users of the Canal and the Valley Park, however as with all construction work there remain risks from the weather, Covid-19 and Brexit which could delay the project programme. Any delays or updates will be publicised.

Please see any updates on the council website Salmonpool Swing Bridge to be temporarily removed to allow urgent maintenance work to take place - Exeter City Council News

Kind Regards
Mrs Yvonne Goodwin
Waterways Administrator
Waterways and Canal Office
Exeter City Council
Haven Road
Exeter
EX2 8DU
01392 265791
Monday to Wednesday 09.30 to 13.30
Friday 09.30 to 13.00

Comments

  • JaneEvansJaneEvans

    Please be aware that the bridge and road closure at Clapperbrook Lane will be extended to 9th April 2021, due to an over-run in project programme.

    We hope to be craning the refurbished bridge back into place on the morning of Tuesday 6th April or Wednesday 7th April, and if all goes smoothly the pedestrian bridge will be craned out late on the same afternoon and the swing bridge opened to pedestrians.

    There may then be a need to close the swing bridge to pedestrians during working hours on Thursday 8th April and Friday 9th April whilst the final adjustments are made to the balance of the bridge to ensure smooth operation.

    Clapperbrook lane will remain closed to vehicles until the end of Friday 9th April whilst contractors demobilise from site, and will be open to the public ready for Saturday morning.

    Waterways & Canal office
    Haven Road
    Exeter
    01392 274306

  • JaneEvansJaneEvans

    Good evening

    Further to the previous email the swing bridge is now planned to be craned into place tomorrow morning (Thursday) and the pedestrian bridge will be removed in the afternoon.

    Water users are advised to keep clear when craning is taking place and follow direction from the contractors’ banksman at the site.

    The protective rubber edging / fendering that was previously under the bridge will be reinstalled in the near future

    Also Canal staff will be towing our large uniflote pontoon (having restricted manoeuvrability) between the Double locks and the Canal Basin bridge through the day.

    Please advise members and customers to take extra care when approaching and going under the bridge

    Many thanks

    Colin
    Colin Acton
    Waterways Operations Manager
    Exeter City Council

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