CONTRACTORS works on Dawlish sea wall have announced the Colonnade underpass will be open this weekend.

Engineers have confirmed there will be safe, step-free access tomorrow and Sunday on a specially-built path under the rail line to the beach and King’s Walk promenade.

A spokesman for the South West Rail Resilience Programme said: ‘We’re also hoping we’ll be able to keep the underpass open for at least part of next week.’

BAM Nuttall, which is constructing this latest phase of the scheme, has been working on installing remaining piles for the foundations of the bridge that will link the two sections of a public, accessible promenade.

Plans for the temporary underpass closure were announced by Network Rail earlier this year.

It has meant while the beach and King’s Walk promenade remain open, it is only via the stepped footbridge near Kennaway Tunnel at the end of Marine Parade.

The proposals sparked anger as it meant there was no access for those with mobility issues and parents with pushchairs.

Work was delayed after the discovery of an ‘uncharted’ capped gas main which meant the underpass has been open for longer than initially expected.

However, it has since had to be closed to allow engineers to work in safety.

The closure has been needed for safety reasons as heavy machinery was required to install foundations of a new bridge to connect the two sections of the new accessible public promenade and for the box culvert, through which Dawlish Water will flow out to sea.