Training exercise to take place on Tamar Bridge

News imageBBC An aerial picture taken looking down on the Tamar Bridge. There is a total of four lanes for traffic and a pedestrian path to the left of the bridge.BBC
The exercise has been designed to take place on the bridge because of its unique characteristics

A planned multi-agency emergency training exercise is set to take place on Tamar Bridge which links Devon and Cornwall.

Tamar Crossings, National Highways and emergency service partners, will carry out the exercise from 19:30 BST on the bridge over the River Tamar between Saltash and Plymouth.

The bridge has been chosen for the exercise because of its "unique characteristics, operational requirements and importance to the regional transport network", Tamar Crossings said.

The bridge is expected to remain open throughout the exercise, with arrangements in place to maintain access for vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists.

Tamar Crossing said appropriate safety measures would be in place throughout and all activity would be carefully managed by the organisations involved.

'Prioritise safety'

Bridge manager Coral Jonas said: "Exercises such as this are an important part of ensuring we remain prepared to respond effectively should an incident occur on the bridge network.

"By working together with our partners in a realistic setting, we can test our procedures, strengthen coordination and continue to prioritise the safety of everyone who uses the Tamar Bridge."

She encouraged anyone travelling through the area to allow extra time for their journeys, to follow any temporary traffic management measures and check for the latest travel information before setting off.

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