Shaldon Bridge will be closed to traffic tomorrow, from 9.30am until 9pm. The closure will allow engineers to test the bridge’s lifting span.

The bridge, which connects Shaldon and Teignmouth, has not been opened for commercial reasons for nearly 90 years, but an Act of Parliament requires the viaduct bridge must remain operational.

Devon County Council engineers will partially open the bridge on Wednesday to carry out the necessary maintenance work.

As a result, Shaldon Bridge will be closed to all vehicles and pedestrians on Wednesday, October 24, from 9.30am until 9pm.

Cllr Stuart Hughes, Devon County Council’s cabinet member for highway management, said: ‘An Act of Parliament is in place requiring the bridge to remain operational and be kept in working order.

‘The closure on Wednesday could be in place until 9pm but we will do everything possible to reopen the bridge earlier and it is possible that the work will be completed in time for the evening rush hour. In that event we will update the public via social media and through our website.

‘We appreciate that this closure will cause some disruption, and we have scheduled the work to take place during the half-term break and after the morning rush hour to minimise this and we appreciate your patience and understanding.’

The opening will be partial as no boats are booked in and this will be sufficient to revolve the mechanism and maintain the locking legs.

There will be no public access for the duration of the closure and the diversion will be signed, via the A381 Teignmouth Road, A380 South Devon Link Road, B3199 Riviera Way, to A379 Teignmouth Road.

The bridge is opened every one to two years to ensure it remains functional as even though there have been no requests for the bridge to be opened for decades, the machinery has to be kept in working order.

In addition, temporary traffic lights will be in operation on Tuesday and Thursday to allow painting and greasing work on the structure.

The lifting span on the bridge has to be kept operational and in working order to allow taller ships access to the higher reaches of the River Teign beyond Teignmouth and Shaldon.