Shaldon Bridge to be raised annually

Shaldon Bridge is set to be raised once a year to ensure that the recently refurbished structure remains operational and to allow essential maintenance.

Last Friday (February 17) Devon County Council contractors, under the direction of the authority’s Bridges Team, successfully completed a trial raising of the bridge’s lifting span.

An Act of Parliament requires that the bridge, which links Shaldon with Teignmouth across the River Teign, remains operational.

The current 324-metre long bridge was completed in 1931, but it has been many years since the lifting span was used for commercial shipping purposes.

Following recent maintenance and refurbishment work the lifting span was successfully raised last week. And now that the bridge is fully operational, it is set to be raised once a year.

The bridge raise was the final stage of the structure’s refurbishment which also included restoring and repairing the aging winding mechanism.

Measures to protect the bridge, including protective paint and pigeon proofing, were also carried out.

Councillor Stuart Hughes, Devon County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highway Management, said:

“I want to thank residents and motorists for their patience during the road closure.

“The general condition of the structure is good.  However because of the structure’s age, a regular inspection and maintenance regime is required.

“We will look to raise the lifting span once a year and any future raises could coincide with requests from local boat owners who wish to transport their vessels up stream for winter storage.

“Now the lifting span has been successfully trialled, tested and is operational,  we anticipate that any temporary road closures needed for future raises will be of a shorter duration."