We’ve secured more than £1m of Government funding to help fund the replacement of Mallison Bridge at Exeter Quay.
The funding follows our successful bid, supported by Exeter City Council, to the Department for Transport’s Active Travel England (ATE) Fund.
The £1.1m funding is Devon’s allocation after the DfT announced that £101 million of funding was being awarded for ‘high quality’ walking and cycling routes across England.
In partnership with Exeter City Council and Exeter Canal and Quay Trust, we’ll deliver a new bridge – the old Mallison Bridge was a key part of a popular cycle route in the City, but structural concerns led the bridge to be closed, then removed, in 2020.
Since then, cyclists and pedestrians have used an alternative route via a narrow path which connects the river to Commercial Road.
The funding will enable a replacement bridge to be delivered which will improve active travel in the city which will in turn boost health and wellbeing and cut carbon emissions.
Councillor Stuart Hughes, Devon County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highway Management, said:
“This funding announcement is great news and will be used to replace what was a well-used link in one of Exeter’s most popular multi-use routes.
“Routes such as this provide a range of benefits such as health and wellbeing, and helping people to access education, employment and leisure facilities.
“We want to enable and encourage more people in Devon to walk and cycle, while also creating more attractive environments in town and city centres.”
Bindu Arjoon, Chief Executive of Exeter City Council, said:
“I very much welcome this successful funding bid which will see a replacement Mallison Bridge installed at Exeter Quay.
“Encouraging active travel is a key Council priority. This funding will increase accessibility at a strategic route in Exeter, and I am so pleased that the City Council has been able to work alongside our colleagues at the County Council to unlock this funding.”
