The new Dinan Way extension in Exmouth will open on 9 September as work begins on the final phase of the scheme.
But the next stage will mean some disruption for drivers for the rest of the year.
A short section of the A376 between Courtlands Cross and Courtlands Lane will close to through traffic while the roundabout is completed.
There will also be overnight closures at Courtlands Cross from 7pm to 6am on 7 and 8 September to allow preparatory work to be carried out.
The new 800-metre road will carry traffic in and out of Exmouth while the second new roundabout is finished at the A376 junction.
The diversion route will be fully signed, and more information will be available on the scheme webpage.
During the closure, vehicles travelling to and from Exmouth town centre will be diverted along the newly completed Dinan Way extension and Hulham Road.
The diversion route will include a number of temporary one-way routes.
These include routes between Hulham Road and Exeter Road via Iona Avenue; between Exeter Road and Hulham Road via Featherbed Lane; and between Pound Lane and Hulham Road via Forton Road/The Marles, Brixington Lane, Jubilee Drive and Dinan Way.
The one-way system, which will be shown in full on the scheme webpage, has been put in place to ensure that most residents can continue to park on the road during the work and to help keep congestion on Hulham Road to a minimum.
There will few parking restrictions but the ones in place will be outside Hulham Road stores and at the nearby junction with Exeter Road, where the road narrows.
There will also be parking restrictions on the A376 between Courtlands Lane junction and Rivermead Avenue. To facilitate footway widening works.
The new road will improve local journeys, support future housing at Goodmores Farm and provide a safer, more reliable route.
The A376 roundabout is one of the most difficult parts of the scheme and has been delayed because of the number of recorded underground utility services in the area that now require diversions.
Poor weather earlier in the year also meant earthworks could not be completed for several months, and the scheme has also been affected by supply chain issues.
The overall scheme is currently expected to be finished by the end of this year.
Temporary traffic lights will also be needed on parts of the A376 during the autumn while contractors move utility services and finish drainage, kerbs and footway work.
The project will also deliver a wider footway along part of the A376 to improve routes for pedestrians and cyclists.
Most of the new 800-metre road has already been built, including the Hulham Road roundabout, a six-metre-high retaining wall, drainage and ponds to manage surface water.
Councillor Dan Thomas, Devon County Council Cabinet Member for Highways, said:
“Opening the Dinan Way link road is a major step forward. It means we can begin the final stage of work while keeping traffic moving in and out of Exmouth.
“We know the temporary closure of part of the A376 will mean changes for road users, but using the new road as the diversion route will help us build the roundabout safely and as quickly as possible.
“Once complete, the scheme will bring lasting benefits for residents, businesses and visitors.”
Councillor Jeff Trail BEM, Devon County Councillor for Exmouth, said:
“People will have seen this new road taking shape over the last couple of years, so it is excellent news that it is now ready to open.
“I know it is often referred to as the Dinan Way extension, but I prefer to see it as the completion of Dinan Way. I have lived in Exmouth long enough to remember Dinan Way being built, and it was always the intention for it to connect through to Exeter Road.
“Once complete, it will make a real difference to how traffic moves around the town, particularly for larger vehicles travelling between the A376, Littleham, the Dinan Way Trading Estate and Liverton Business Park.
Councillor Helen Brown, Devon County Councillor for Exmouth, said:
“The opening of the new link road is a major achievement and a clear sign of the progress that has been made. It’s also good news that separate arrangements have been made for vehicles with particularly wide loads, so they will not use this diversion route.
“We would like to thank residents and businesses for their continued patience. These final works will help complete a scheme that will improve local journeys and support Exmouth’s future growth and it will divert larger vehicles away from the town centre.”
The Dinan Way extension scheme is being funded by the UK Government, Devon County Council, East Devon District Council and Exmouth Town Council.
You can find more information here.