New measures introduced to protect Exeter’s iconic Iron Bridge

Published: 31 August 2023

Devon County Council is introducing new measures this week to re-enforce the three-tonne weight restriction to vehicles using Exeter’s iconic Iron Bridge.

The structure of the Grade II-listed cast iron bridge, built in 1835, is routinely assessed but in the latest assessment, highways officers monitoring traffic over a four-hour period, reported in excess of 20 vehicles using the bridge that were thought to be well over three tonnes in weight.

Traffic is restricted to travelling in one-direction over the bridge in the direction of St David’s Hill, and the width of the road is restricted to 1.8 metres to prevent larger, heavier vehicles from using the bridge.

But bollards on the raised curbs on either side are 2.5 metres apart, and larger vehicles were seen during the monitoring exercise mounting the curbs to squeeze between them.

Contractors will be placing two large concrete blocks alongside the bollards as a temporary measure, to prevent vehicles from being able to mount the curb, and to re-enforce the three-tonne weight restriction.

Devon County Council, which is the highways authority, said it will be considering other longer term solutions in keeping with the history and conservation of the bridge.

The 1.8 metre width of the road will remain unchanged.