A382 Project
What exactly is planned for the A382?
The A382 and Jetty Marsh Link Major Road Network (MRN) project is funded by the Department for Transport (DfT) and Devon County Council (DCC) and has been in the planning stages for a number of years. Planning permission has been gained where necessary and land acquisition is underway.
The purpose of the project is to increase traffic capacity to the north of Newton Abbot and to open up commercial and residential development. The project is comprised of two schemes:
Drumbridges to Forches Cross (2.5km)
This scheme includes 500m (Drumbridges to Trago) of widening the existing highway to form a dual carriageway and two new roundabouts. The remainder of the highway length is upgrading and realigning the existing highway to construct an 8.3 m wide single carriageway with pedestrian/cycle facilities alongside.
Jetty Marsh Link Road (700m)
This scheme consists of a new link road connecting the A382 with West Golds Way, including the construction of a new roundabout. The remainder of the scheme is predominantly off-line construction and requires the construction of an embankment as the road passes through a flood zone. Large culverts are proposed to allow for flood conditions as well as excavation of a filled area for flood mitigation. The excavated material is proposed for use in the embankment.
Why is the A382 project needed?
Overall, the A382 and Jetty Marsh Link MRN project will improve journey times and journey time reliability between Drumbridges and Newton Abbot, improving the connectivity of Newton Abbot to the Strategic Road Network. This will benefit both businesses and commuters in and around Newton Abbot.
The scheme will complete the segregated pedestrian/cycle route from Newton Abbot to the developments and the A38. It further promotes and provides a safer route for active travel users.
The collision rate for the A382 MRN route is 245 collisions per billion vehicle kilometres, higher than both the national and Devon County Council five-year rural A-roads average. Most of the A382 route is of a rural layout, comprising a low standard single carriageway with poor alignment (minimum width 5.5 metres) and no verges. There is no pedestrian provision, and the narrow road is dangerous for non-motorised users.
The route is approaching capacity and therefore delivers a reduced level of service; the section into Newton Abbot town centre is slow moving at peak times.
Additionally, the A382 MRN scheme will help support the delivery of 2,500 homes in the adopted Local Plan period on the A382 Corridor and a potential additional 1,300 homes in the Local Plan Update. It will also provide better access to identified employment areas at Ilford Park and Forches Cross.
What does ‘carbon negative’ mean for Devon County Council and the A382 project?
Achieving carbon negative means removing more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere than is produced. This goes one step further than the terms ‘carbon neutral’ or ‘net zero’, which usually involves reducing a proportion of emissions and offsetting an amount to overall equalise what is being produced.
By striving to become carbon negative, the A382 project aims to have an overall net effect of removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
For more information on Devon’s commitment to tackling climate change, please visit the Devon Climate Emergency website.
How will this project help tackle climate change?
The construction industry is a major source of carbon emissions in the UK, producing over 10 million metric tonnes of carbon dioxide in 2021. Highways construction and maintenance is a major contributor within that figure, so it is vital that we reduce emissions from construction projects such as the A382 as well as their ongoing maintenance.
This project, by having a net effect of carbon dioxide removal from the atmosphere, can therefore provide a substantial improvement on current approaches to highways construction, reducing our carbon footprint and consequently reducing the warming effect of carbon dioxide on our planet.
The project will also go a long way in helping Devon County Council become net-zero as an authority by 2030 and net-zero as a county by 2050. Moreover, the A382 project can help inspire similar projects nationwide, acting as a blueprint for sustainable highways construction projects and sparking change throughout the industry.
Does the carbon negative target also include road users?
As set out in the original Live Labs 2 project brief from ADEPT, the programme aims to decarbonise local highways infrastructure and assets, rather than the vehicles using the roads. The decarbonisation of vehicles is covered by other funding programmes.
More information and guidance on sustainable travel options can be found in the Devon Carbon Plan. However, the A382 project will still promote greener ways of travelling, through the expansion of the local cycle path network.
Are the whole-life environmental impacts of materials used in the project being considered?
Yes, the decision-making process for materials selection includes an assessment of whole-life impact. This includes evaluating the whole-life carbon costs of potential innovations and including the carbon footprint of maintenance within our calculations.
What is ‘offsetting’ and will it be included in the project?
Offsetting is the word often used to describe the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, or an increase in carbon storage, that is used to compensate for emissions that occur elsewhere. We will not be investing in any offsets that are offered or sold from third-party organisations external to the project – termed ‘commercial’ offsets. Instead, we are investigating potential ‘insetting’ techniques to implement within the project, including nature-based solutions. This means pursuing innovations that reduce, remove, and store long term carbon directly within the project boundaries. Overall, the Oxford Principles will serve as our primary guide to offsetting.
What are the project’s goals on nature improvements? How will you combat what is lost during construction?
The project includes a voluntary commitment by Devon County Council to achieve its 10% Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) target. This ensures that the natural environment and surrounding habitats on the A382 will be, overall, in a better state than they were before the improvements. The project has also incorporated offsite mitigation areas for a wider biodiversity benefit.
The construction project and enabling works will be working in accordance with two protected species licenses: for bats, and for hazel dormice. This will ensure that appropriate methodology is followed to reduce the potential impact and disturbance on these species.
The project has already implemented a tree translocation programme, which involved moving over 2000 existing healthy native trees to a temporary tree nursery on the side of the A382. Here, trees are continuing to grow and absorb carbon dioxide during the construction period. The same trees will then be replanted on the project as part of the planned landscaping.
Where will water go when there is a new road at Jetty Marsh?
The new Jetty Marsh Link Road will sit on an embankment, which will also include two large culverts to allow surface and flood water to pass through. As this site is located within the functional flood plain, the project will excavate the historically deposited quarry overburden – located to the east of the embankment. This will create additional flood water storage and offset the impact of the embankment footprint.
What will happen to the stone bridge at Trago roundabout?
A new bridge will be constructed as part of the scheme, which will carry the realigned and widened road. The existing stone bridge will be retained as part of the cycleway/footway on the side of the road.
How can suppliers and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) get involved with the project?
SMEs that want to get involved in the project are welcome to get in touch with us.
How will you share innovations and lessons learned from the project?
Key updates on progress will be shared via this website and social media. More in depth reports on trials and innovations will be shared as the project progresses in line with ADEPT guidance. Key members of the A382 Team will also present on progress at industry events and conferences.
For more information on the other Live Labs 2 projects, please visit the ADEPT Live Labs 2 website or you can read updates on the ADEPT Live Labs 2 blog.
Where can I suggest an innovation for the project?
If you have a suggestion for a potential innovation for us to explore, then please submit your proposals.
Where can I access additional information on the project’s progress and ask any other questions?
Updates related to construction and carbon performance will be shared via the “progress” section of this website. For any additional enquiries, please contact us by email at a382@milestoneinfra.co.uk.
Live Labs 2
What is ADEPT Live Labs 2 and the A382 project?
ADEPT Live Labs 2: Decarbonising Local Roads in the UK is a three year, UK-wide, £30 million programme developed by the Association of Directors of Environment, Economy, Planning and Transport (ADEPT) and funded by the Department for Transport (DfT). Live Labs 2 will trial innovative decarbonisation proposals from local highways authority (LHA) led public-private joint ventures, with a particular focus on the decarbonisation of emissions in the construction, operations, maintenance, and decommissioning phases of local roads.
In total, Live Labs 2 comprises of seven projects, grouped by four interconnected themes. Our project – the A382 with Jetty Marsh Link project – is just one of those seven ‘live labs’ and is grouped under the theme of ‘corridor and place-based decarbonisation’. It is a multi-partner project, with Devon County Council working closely alongside both Milestone Infrastructure and the University of Exeter to deliver the UK’s first carbon negative stretch of highway.
For more information on ADEPT Live Labs 2 and the rest of the other projects, please visit the ADEPT website.
Why is the programme needed?
Transport is responsible for over a quarter of carbon dioxide emissions in the UK. Innovation in transport decarbonisation has focused primarily on the tailpipe through promoting modal shift, behavioural change and technological advancement.
Much more focus needs to be dedicated to decarbonising road construction and maintenance. Approximately £2 billion is spent every year on maintaining our local highway assets with additional spending on building new local infrastructure – all of which have a significant carbon impact.
Live Labs 2 will address embedded and hidden carbon from specification and procurement, through construction, delivery and operation to decommissioning and reinstatement.
How will the programme drive innovation?
Live Labs 2 has been designed to stimulate innovation among local government, commercial and academic partners, suppliers and specialist SMEs.
Embedding innovation and untried technology into ‘business as usual’ practices can be risky for highway authorities, which is why DfT has agreed to fund the programme within the parameters set by ADEPT.
Live Labs is designed to accept that risk as a core principle and recognises that success isn’t guaranteed.
How will the sector benefit?
Collaboration, sharing information and learning, and a willingness to innovate are embedded into the programme which, as found with Live Labs 1, often leads to behavioural and culture change.
Many of the original Live Labs teams were able to secure additional funding to extend their projects and have created significant changes within their organisations who have created dedicated innovation teams as a result.
Who is ADEPT?
The Association of Directors of Environment, Economy, Planning & Transport (ADEPT) represents place directors from county, unitary, metropolitan and combined authorities along with directors of local enterprise partnerships, sub-national transport bodies and corporate partners drawn from key service sectors.
ADEPT members are at the very heart of maximising clean sustainable growth, delivering the projects that are fundamental to creating more resilient communities, economies and infrastructure.
Over 14.7 million households in England – and two thirds of the population – rely on services provided by ADEPT members. These services include housing, environmental and regulatory services, planning, economic development, culture and highways and transport.
The Association represents members’ interests by proactively engaging central government on emerging policy and issues, responding to consultations and enquiries, and promoting initiatives and research aimed at influencing government policy.
Contact us
If you have any remaining questions about the A382 scheme then please email a382@milestoneinfra.co.uk.