Kingsbridge open at last!

Fore Street in Kingsbridge opened fully to traffic this week after a major engineering operation to install a 45-metre-long culvert beneath the road, an essential piece of infrastructure that carries water under the town centre.

The previous culvert had failed and needed to be completely replaced to prevent the risk of further damage beneath the road. The work presented significant engineering challenges. Teams had to excavate several metres below road level and work around a complex network of utility services beneath Fore Street, often by hand rather than machine.

The project had previously been likened to threading a needle because of the limited space available between existing pipes and cables and even a section that required specialist asbestos removal. The new structure will help protect the road and essential services for years to come, reducing the risk of future failures and improving the resilience of the local highway network.

The project also uncovered pieces of Kingsbridge’s history, with excavation work revealing historic structures linked to the original “King’s Bridge” as well as pottery dating back centuries. These finds were recorded and preserved for future generations.