FINAL preparations are underway to lift in place a new 26 metre bridge as part of work on the multi-million pound Dawlish link road. 

Work on phase one of the project from the A379 to Secmaton Farm involves building a new span bridge and 110m of carriageway on an embankment including footways and cycleways. 

A further 360 metres of carriageway with a width of six metres will also be built.

Lifting the bridge into position is due to take place over two days next week. 

Weather permitting, contractors are hoping the manoeuvre will go ahead on Tuesday and Wednesday, April 16 and 17. 

Engineers are preparing the site for the bridge to be put in place. 

Piling has been completed and reinforced concrete has been poured. 

The bridge has been delivered in sections to be assembled on site by contractors Montel Civil Engineering.

It will be lifted in position by a 500 ton crane. 

Several lorries are needed to bring in counterweights and other equipment for the lifting operation. 

The work had been due to take place in mid February but has been delayed. 

The bridge lift is part of the wider scheme to open up access for further land for housing development. 

Residents and local councillors had been campaigning for the link road to improve access and traffic through Dawlish for many years before the project was given the go-ahead. 

Devon County Council and Teignbridge Council are working together on the design and management of the scheme which is west of the A379 at Shutterton. 

In 2019 Teignbridge District Council was awarded £4.9m funding via Homes England’s HIF towards the provision of the new bridge and section of new road linking the A379 at Sainsbury’s roundabout to Elm Grove Road.

The HIF government capital grant programme helps delivery new infrastructure in areas of greatest housing demand. 

The road scheme will provide direct access to more than 400 new homes at Secmaton Farm and Swan Park in Dawlish. 

It will also allow access to approximately 400 additional homes at Gatehouse Farm including construction access.

Work on the whole scheme began in September 2023.