Advance works are planned in Shaldon in the first half of November as preparations continue for the rebuilding of the collapsed retaining wall between Torquay Road and Ringmore Road.
The wall collapsed in February 2024 but before the wall can be rebuilt, a number of utility services need to be moved or diverted.
Openreach is due to begin work on November 9 to divert its cables from the site, allowing them to be moved out of the way of the future wall rebuilding works.
This work is expected to take around two weeks and will require the existing temporary traffic lights to be changed to three-way lights to provide enough space for the work to be carried out safely. Parking and turning restrictions will also be needed.
The Openreach cable diversion is one of several pieces of advance work needed before the wall can be rebuilt.
A National Grid cable will also need to be diverted, while repairs are needed to highway drainage damaged during previous utility works. Dates for these further works are likely to be in the New Year.
The three-way lights will remain in place for the duration of the Openreach works, with parking temporarily suspended on Ringmore Road to reduce queuing.
The traffic management plan also includes restrictions on turning between Ringmore Road and Torquay Road.
The aim is that the repair work to the wall will start once these works have been completed.
Councillor Dan Thomas, Devon County Council Cabinet Member for Highways, said:
“We appreciate how frustrating the temporary traffic lights have been for people in Shaldon. These utility works will cause some additional disruption, but they are an important step towards rebuilding the wall.”
Councillor Heather Horner, local member for Ipplepen & The Kerswells, said:
“I know people in Shaldon are keen to see the wall rebuilt and the temporary lights removed. I’m pleased that these advance works are getting underway and that progress is being made towards the permanent repair.”
