Salmonpool Swing Bridge back in position after major repair works

Published: 12 April 2021

Urgent works have been carried out on Salmonpool Swing Bridge and it is now back in position after being temporarily removed.

The bridge at Clapperbrook Lane East – crossing Exeter Ship Canal – was lifted back into position last week and has reopened to traffic and pedestrians.

The works involved lifting the bridge out and into the Valley Park Car Park, where the steelwork was sand-blasted inside a large ‘tent’ to control dust.

It has been repaired and repainted, with new decking and railings installed, before it was lifted back into place on Thursday.

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.