Bridge lifting

After the first bridge lifts, the second bridge will open as soon as possible.

The first bridge will open again, if required, for returning vessels.

All vessels must be visible and on station when requesting a lift and you should make contact with the Bridge Operator on channel 12 notifying them.

Poole Bridge will lift first for all lifting cycles, Twin Sails opens immediately afterwards.

If there are no inbound vessels requesting a lift at the timetabled times but there are vessels requesting lift outbound, Twin Sails will lift first.

The bridges will only lift on request.

Until further notice, the lifting schedule of Poole Bridge and Twin Sails will follow the schedule below.

Temporary timetable until Twin Sails is operational again

Weekday lift times	Extra lift times at weekends and bank holidays
6:30am
7:30am
	8:30am
9:30am
10:30am
12:30pm
2:30pm
	3:30pm
4:30pm
	5:30pm
6:30pm
8:30pm
9:30pm
10:30pm
11:30pm

Last updated: 17 September 2025.

Christmas timetable

Over Christmas and New Year, the timetable will be as follows:

• 24 December: normal lifting schedule between 8:30am and 4:30pm
• 25 and 26 December: no lifts (emergency cover only)
• 27, 28, 29, 30, 31 December and 1 January 2026: normal lifting schedule between 8:30am and 4:30pm

Unscheduled lifts

When hourly lifts are scheduled, the only unscheduled lifts will be under the direction of the Harbour Master, or from commercial vessels longer than 40 metres.

To apply, download the the application form for an unscheduled bridge lift for a commercial vessel.

Mariners need to check the headroom displays at the bridge to judge if they can pass below without the bridge being lifted.