Plans to replace two ageing bridges on one of Exeter’s busiest routes have provoked criticism from local campaigners and the city’s MP, who say the proposals lack ambition and will miss opportunities to improve access beneath the structures.
Local concerns over low replacement bridges
Devon County Council has published proposals to replace the two bridges that carry the A379 Bridge Road over the Exeter Ship Canal at Countess Wear with new bascule (lifting) bridges. The council says the chosen design will be resilient and reliable, but campaigners and waterway organisations argue the replacement bridges are drawn too low.
The Inland Waterways Association (IWA) and the Friends of Exeter Ship Canal and Heritage Harbour (FESCHH) have both raised concerns, pointing out that the canal forms part of a five‑mile navigable route between the city centre and the sea. They say low fixed heights will prevent paddleboarders, pedestrians and cyclists from passing underneath without risk, and will close off the potential for barges or other freight craft to re‑use the waterway.
“Devon County Council’s own business case identified the potential for cyclists and pedestrians to pass underneath the new bridges if they were built higher, but this significant safety benefit would be lost if they now press ahead without doing so.”
Exeter’s Labour MP has joined the criticisms, saying the council has "missed a trick" and accusing planners of lacking vision for the canal corridor. Campaigners also say the current public consultation is unrepresentative: while five options were reportedly discussed with stakeholders in October 2025, the public consultation apparently presents a single option that retains the existing bridge heights.
What campaigners want and why it matters
- Higher bridge spans that would allow paddleboards and small craft to pass beneath without requiring the bridges to be lifted.
- Space for pedestrians and cyclists to use a continuous route under the bridges, improving active travel connections along the canal.
- Longer‑term vision for the canal, including the possibility of restoring freight movements by barge.
Proponents argue these changes would improve safety by removing conflicts between river users and road traffic, encourage more walking and cycling, and support plans to reinvigorate the canal as a transport and leisure asset for Exeter.
Decision points and next steps
The county council maintains the bascule design will provide a reliable crossing for the A379. The consultation and any technical assessments will feed into the project business case and the formal planning process. Campaigners want the council to revisit earlier options and to make higher clearances central to the public consultation, rather than presenting a single preferred height.
| Item | As reported |
|---|---|
| Route | A379 Bridge Road, Countess Wear |
| Proposal | Replace two bridges with bascule lifting bridges |
| Stakeholders raising objections | IWA, FESCHH, Exeter MP |
| Key campaign request | Build higher spans to allow underpass for pedestrians/cyclists and small craft |
The outcome will have a direct bearing on how the canal is used in future and on walking and cycling routes close to one of the city’s busiest road links. As Exeter prepares for further development and seeks to expand active travel options, the bridge project has become a focal point for contesting short‑term resilience against longer‑term connectivity and vision.
