Work is continuing on a link bridge connecting the two sections of the new sea wall at Dawlish.

It had been hoped the project, which will include a channel for Dawlish Water to flow out to sea, would be complete at the end of January.

Construction began in June but was delayed by around six weeks due to the discovery of an uncharted gas main. Poor weather then caused further delays.

Network Rail said it plans to open the first span at the Colonnade underpass, which will provide step-free access to the King’s Walk promenade, "within the next few weeks".

CGI mock-up of the completed link bridge and channel (Network Rail)

A Network Rail spokesperson said: "Our bricklayers have been hard at work this week continuing to lay the granite surfaces on the new promenade and around the stilling basin in Dawlish.

"There are around 140,000 individual tiles in total being laid by hand in this area and it's painstaking work.

"We’ve also been digging out the old surface underneath Colonnade viaduct and pouring concrete, ready to lay the new cobbles.

"The new surface will improve the drainage, reducing the amount of water collecting in the underpass.

"We’re planning to open the first span under Colonnade within the next few weeks so that step-free access to the King’s Walk promenade will be available once more.

"Thank you to everyone for your continued patience."

Around 140,000 individual tiles are being laid by hand (Network Rail)

What is the progress of other projects at the railway?

Work on the first section of the sea wall at Dawlish from Kennaway Tunnel at Boat Cove along Marine Parade to the Colonnade breakwater (on Dawlish Town Beach) was completed in July 2020.

The second section of the sea wall is from the Colonnade breakwater to the Coastguard breakwater. Work began in November 2020.

Work on a rockfall shelter north of Parson's Tunnel between Dawlish and Holcombe began in late 2021 and is due to be complete in autumn 2023. 

A new accessible footbridge with lifts at Dawlish railway station is due to open in summer 2023 after work began in September.

Netting and fencing work on the cliffs between Dawlish and Holcombe to protect the railway from falling debris will start in spring 2023.