Residents are being asked for their views on plans to replace two ageing bridges on one of Exeter’s busiest routes with new crossings that could serve the city until the end of the century.
A six-week consultation on the A379 Bridge Road scheme opens on Monday 15 June and runs until Monday 27 July.
Bridge Road is one of only four routes across the River Exe and is also used as an official diversion route when there are problems on the M5.
Since 2020, the bridges have needed more than 100 maintenance visits, causing delays and disruption for drivers, bus passengers, pedestrians, cyclists and boats.
The current bridges are well beyond their expected life, with the swing bridge around 90 years old and the lifting bridge 54 years old.
The modernised bridges will be able to open faster and more efficiently than the current ones.
The plans include widening shared paths across the bridges, improving crossings, make changes including, creating a new shared path around Matford Roundabout, and adding a new bus stop and shelter near King George V Playing Fields.
As well as replacing the bridges, the scheme aims to improve safety, make journeys more reliable, and create better routes for people walking, wheeling, cycling and using the bus.
Two lanes of traffic in each direction would remain.
At this stage, construction is not expected to start until spring 2029, subject to approval from the Department for Transport.
Consultation feedback will be used to help shape the final plans before a business case is submitted in winter 2026.
Councillor Dan Thomas, Devon County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways, said:
“Bridge Road is a key route for Exeter and beyond, but the current bridges are ageing and becoming less reliable. We want to hear from the people who use it so we can shape a scheme that improves safety and helps keep traffic moving.”
Councillor Jacqi Hodgson, the council’s Cabinet Member with responsibility for Transport, said:
“This consultation also presents an opportunity for people to share their ideas for improving access to bus services, and improving walking, cycling and wheeling links to the Exe Estuary Trail and the neighbouring communities served by Bridge Road.”
People can find out more and speak to the project team at two public consultation events at Exeter University Boat Club, Bridge Road, EX2 7BZ:
- Tuesday 30 June, 3pm to 7pm
- Wednesday 1 July, 12 noon to 5pm
For more information about the consultation, and how to respond to it, visit Devon County Council’s Have Your Say website. The consultation will be live on Monday 15 June.
Residents can also respond by email to transportplanning-mailbox@devon.gov.uk, or by post to: FAO Transport Planning, A379 Bridge Road Consultation, Devon County Council, County Hall, Topsham Road, Exeter, EX2 4QD.