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The engineering design group brings incredible infrastructure projects to life to support economic growth and enhance our community and landscape. An example is the bridge over the A379, which you can see being lifted into position below:

 

Our work spans from the £110m South Devon link road designed to tackle congestion between Newton Abbot and Torbay to the first-class Wray Valley and Exe Estuary trails, which has made it possible to walk or cycle along both sides of the River Exe between Exmouth, Exeter and Dawlish. It includes multi-span bridges and boardwalks providing wonderful opportunities to explore the estuary,

We’ve got new, exciting projects in the pipeline.  We’ve been working on projects around Exeter to unlock urban congestion as well as works to upgrade the North Devon Link Road, the A382 Corridor improvements to facilitate the Newton Abbot Local Plan and we’ve recently completed the £10m Tithebarn Link Road to promote economic growth in Exeter.

Other significant projects over the last few years include the delivery the state of the art Pinbrook Recycling Centre in Exeter which provided complex engineering challenges. As well as the £42m landmark Barnstaple Western bypass (the biggest single civil engineering project prepared and awarded by the County Council for over 20 years), which was completed on time and to budget.

We understand the importance of developing our staff to provide the highest possible quality of services to the people of Devon. Here you will gain practical, on-the-job experience and real responsibility from day one with the support of a friendly team. The vast career opportunities range from apprenticeships and graduates to experienced principal engineer roles.

So, whether you’re just starting out or you’re already well on your way, we have a whole breadth of challenges, ample training opportunities and fantastic rewards to offer. All you need to bring is your ambition.


Engineering Projects

 

Find out more below about some of the engineering projects we have been working on over the last few years!

Stoke Meadow footbridge.

Stoke Meadow Footbridge – 2021

Stoke Meadow Close footbridge was a timber footbridge initially built around 1980. The timber deck was unfortunately rotting, so the footbridge was replaced in October 2021, and at the time it was EDG’s first bridge deck made entirely of moulded fibre-reinforced polymers (FRP).

Scheme name: Stoke Meadow Footbridge – Engineering Projects

Skinners Farm Footbridge Replacement

Skinners Farm Footbridge is located in Fortescue, Sidmouth and spans the River Sid. The previous bridge suffered scour issues to its abutments and was impassable during times of flooding, due to the low level of the deck and funnelling of the river channel.

Scheme name: Skinners Farm Footbridge replacement – Engineering Projects

Skinners Farm footbridge over a river with rocks and trees in the foreground.
New train station at Marsh Barton. Image taken standing on bridge looking down at the new tracks and platform.

Marsh Barton Railway Station

Marsh Barton Railway Station is situated between Starcross and Exeter St Thomas on the Exeter to Paignton railway line,
immediately south of Clapperbrook Lane located on the eastern edge of the Marsh Barton Business Park.

Scheme name: Marsh Barton Railway Station – Engineering Projects

Knowle Footbridge Replacement

Knowle Footbridge provides a link between Knowle and the National Cycle Network Route 27 and is located in Braunton,
North Devon. The existing timber bridge had deteriorated beyond repair as the main beams and deck planks were rotten has reached
the end of their useful life.

Scheme name: Knowle Footbridge Replacement – Engineering Projects

 

Knowle footbridge
Image of the new Collard Bridge.

Collard Bridge

In July 2012 Devon experienced severe flood events, from which damage and disruption resulted to the existing highway
infrastructure. Collard Bridge was one structure affected, the existing masonry arch was washed away due to the extreme rise in river
levels and the resulting hydraulic action.

Scheme name: Collard Bridge – Engineering Projects

B3230 Muddiford Leat

The Muddiford Leat project was a highway stabilisation scheme situated alongside the B3230 near Barnstaple. The leat itself forms part of an historic mill and is still working to this day. Heavy rain during the winter months of 2019, combined with an already steep angle of bank (almost 70°) supporting the highway, resulted in several local land slips along the leat which required repair to safeguard the stability of the highway.

Scheme name: B3230 Muddiford Leat – Engineering Projects

Image of a river bank with metal supports holding the bank back with water running below.
Image showing a new stretch of road with re-designed safety barrier.

B3227 Black Cat Retaining Wall

A 360m long section of the B3227 is cut into a very steep hillside, the existing road was supported on a combination of
steep ground, drystone walls and gabion retaining walls. The road support was experiencing landslips and failing old
structures, with sections of the road suffering from collapse.
A new retaining wall scheme was required to address the stability issues and provide a new and compliant road safety
barrier to protect the steep drop to the A396 below.

Scheme name: B3227 Black Cat Retaining Wall – Engineering Projects

 

 

A377 Kingford

This site is located on the A377, just south of Umberleigh. A major route for HGV’s and the travelling public in getting between Exeter and Barnstaple. A 45m length of cracking was visible in the edge of the carriageway. DCC undertook a survey of the bank which was supporting the highway, and this showed that the toe of the bank was subject to serious scour from the River Taw below.

Scheme name: A377 Kingford – Engineering Projects


Why I enjoy working for Devon


Staff Stories

Lee

Lee joined Devon County Council in 2013 as a Trainee Technician Apprentice. Lee achieved EngTech status with the Institute of Engineering & Technology
and completed his apprenticeship in 2015. Following this, Lee was promoted first to Technician in 2016 and then to Senior Technician in 2018.

Hear more about Lee’s journey:

Staff Stories – Lee

 

Career Timeline. Trainee Technician Apprentice Technician Higher Apprentice EngTech Status Technician Senior Technician
Career Progression Timeline for Katherine: 2010 Graduated. 2010 Graduate Engineer. 2013 Assistant Engineer. 2017 Engineer. 2020 Chartership.

Katherine

Katherine graduated from the University of Plymouth with a Masters degree in Civil and Coastal Engineering in 2010 before joining Devon County Council as a Graduate Engineer on the Graduate Rotation Scheme later the same year. In 2013 Katherine was promoted to Assistant Engineer, followed by a further promotion to Engineer in 2017. In 2020 Katherine achieved Chartership with the Institution of Civil Engineers, which led to a promotion to Senior Engineer.

Hear more about Katherine’s journey:

Staff Stories – Katherine


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