Work has started on improvements to the A382, with the road now closed at the Whitehills junction for around 11 months.
The £50 million scheme aims to help ease congestion, improve safety and encourage active travel. It will upgrade and re-align the A382 between Forches Cross and Stover (Ice House Copse) and develop the Jetty Marsh Link road and Whitehills roundabout.
Once the roundabout at Whitehills is complete, the work will move to Forches Cross, where there will be a further closure for 12 months.
Councillors have visited the site today (Monday 29 September) to be briefed on the scheme programme.
Roads and Buses Minister Simon Lightwood said: “We’re on the side of motorists and it’s great to hear that work has started on these improvements for the A382. Thanks to Government funding, motorists in Devon will get from A to B quicker. This scheme will be delivered sustainably, and will provide safer journeys as well as more options for walking, wheeling and cycling. People will also benefit from greater access to jobs, helping to grow the economy – a key part of our Plan for Change.”
Councillor Dan Thomas, Cabinet Member for Highway Management, said:
“There were three serious collisions and nine slight injury collisions on the A382 in the four years before work started on the first phase of the improvement project. That reduced by more than half in the four years after the first phase was completed, so it’s vital these latest improvements are carried out to reduce collisions even further. It’s impossible to undertake this sort of development without some disruption but every effort is going into minimise that as much as possible, which is why a lot of planning has gone into managing the diversions and ensuring access to businesses near the A382 will be maintained throughout.”
Councillor Jacqueline Fry, County Councillor for Newton Abbot North, said:
“I look forward to the completion of these works and the benefits they promise to bring upon completion, making travel a smoother experience for both locals and visitors.”
Traffic management which will be in place for the construction of the scheme has been developed following discussions with businesses along the route. Access to local businesses is being maintained throughout.
Diversion route options are in place via the A383 and B3193. These routes are being monitored to enable the quickest diversion route to be displayed in real time on 17 Variable Message Signs (VMS) in key areas so people can choose the quickest route for their journey.
Other measures include re-programmed timings of existing traffic lights, Greycoat Lane is now one way, Ringslade Road is closed southbound, and temporary traffic signals have been installed at the junction of Clay Lane/Clay Pits Way.
The A382 improvement scheme will also unlock the delivery of proposed developments in Teignbridge District Council’s adopted Local Plan.
It is being funded by UK Government, Devon County Council and Teignbridge District Council, and builds upon the first phase of improvements to the A382 and A382/A383 Link Road.
For more information please visit our A382 webpages.