TODAY’S the day Dawlish sea wall will be opening to the public.

The second section of the new sea wall will be open from 2pm, joining the walkway up for people to walk the whole length of the seafront promenade. 

The £80 million project is designed to protect the iconic railway through Dawlish. 

As the main work drew to a close, the team of engineers from Network Rail and contractors BAM Nuttall posed for some photos.

They said: ‘We’re all looking forward to welcoming you to the new promenade.

Contractors working on the scheme have completed the link for the two sections of the wall.

A spokesman for Network Rail said: ‘You’ll be able to join the new promenade by using the ramp or steps at Colonnade underpass or by crossing the new link bridge from King’s Walk. 

‘Alternatively, you can join at Coastguards footbridge.

‘We’d like to say a big thank you to everyone in Dawlish for your patience while we have built the wall which will help to protect the railway for years to come.’

Yan Sayles, from contractor Bam Nuttall, said: ‘We’ve been working for four years constructing the sea wall and overall, it’s been very positive.

‘Lots of people in the town have been talking to us and are excited for it to open.

‘The team here have done an outstanding job and I’d like to thank the people of Dawlish and everyone involved in the scheme.’

The transformation will see the 415m length of the new promenade open along with other fully accessible public areas. 

Stretching between Coastguards and Colonnade breakwaters, it is linked to the first section at Marine Parade by a new footbridge, running parallel to the railway viaduct.

Completion of the £80m Government-funded project means the community and visitors to Dawlish can now enjoy the accessible high-level promenade all the way from Boat Cove to Coastguards footbridge, where it then joins the original sea wall.