Exe Estuary Trail (Cycle/Walkway)
Current Status of the Exe Estuary Trail - November 2011
East of the Estuary
The section from Exmouth to Exton has been open to the public for some while now. Works on the section of Trail between Exton and River Clyst and Odhams Link have recently been completed and both sections were open for public use on 15th April 2011. Odham's Link is the interim soloution to provide a link to Topsham and at the same time provide permanent link through to Ebford. Odham's Link runs along what was the route of a railway siding to Odham's Wharf. Together with the Ebford Link, and the proposed new shared use structure over the River Clyst at Fisher's Bridge, it would complete a cycle/walkway connection between Ebford Village, the Exe Estuary Trail and Topsham. Construction of Fishers Bridge commenced early June 2011 with an expected completion by October 2011. The Route between Topsham and Exeter Quayside is complete and open for public use.
This final section on the East side of the Exe Estuary Trail includes a 120m span bridge over the River Clyst and a section through the RSPB Goosemoor Nature reserve where there are considerable restrictions on the timing of construction activities. These restrictions, together with the complications of constructing a bridge over the River Clyst have necessitated the work to be scheduled over future financial years.
West of the Estuary
The route on the West of the Estuary will extend the existing network from Bridge Road in Exeter via Turf Lock, to Powderham Church, Starcross and Cockwood to existing facilities within Dawlish Warren, which in turn continue to Dawlish. The sections from Bridge Road to the Turf Hotel and from Powderham Church to Dawlish Warren, including through Starcross and Cockwood have already been completed. The only remaining section is from Turf Lock to Powderham Church where land negotiations and consultation on refining the appearance of the proposed bridge over the railway line continue.
