Devon County Council highways teams are assessing damage to the A379 at Slapton after parts of the road were washed away overnight.
The Council has been working around the clock over the past week to add extra rock protection to the southern section of the road at Torcross, following initial damage to the road during Storm Ingrid.
However, the southern section of the road and sheet piling at Torcross has now suffered significant damage, with one lane collapsed on a section of around 200 metres.
Part of South Hams District Council’s “Torcross Tank” car park has also been lost, and properties in Torcross have been damaged as well.
Councillor Julian Brazil, Devon County Council Leader and local County Councillor for Kingsbridge, is in London today with Devon County Council Chief Executive Donna Manson to discuss central government funding support for Devon’s roads.
Councillor Julian Brazil, Devon County Council Leader, said:
“It’s devastating for the local community, and our priority is the families whose lives and livelihoods are directly affected by this. The route is not looking good and we’re likely to be looking at tens of millions of pounds to repair it. The County can’t afford to rebuild the road and we’re desperately looking for help from government. The Chief Executive and I are in Westminster with local MP Caroline Voaden, banging the drum and making representations on behalf of people in the local community, to do as much as we can for them.”
Councillor Dan Thomas, County Council Cabinet Member for Highways and Leader of South Hams District Council, said:
“We’ve been trying everything to try and protect this section of the road as best we can since Storm Ingrid, but sadly the ongoing challenging weather conditions have taken their toll. Our teams are on site and we’re working with partners to assess the situation and work out what our next steps will be. We’ll certainly be doing everything possible to seek help from the Government.”
Devon and South Hams had been working closely on plans to try and divert traffic through the car park as an interim measure to get the A379 up and running again. However, the extent of the damage overnight is a major setback and that option is no longer possible.
Further investigations now also need be carried out on the full extent of the road between Torcross and Strete Gate.
The last time the road had been washed away in severe weather was during Storm Emma in March 2018, but it re-opened later that year after an extensive repair scheme.