The A382 link road development near Newton Abbot is an ambitious proposal to become the UK’s first ‘carbon negative’ highway – decarbonising the construction and maintenance of the road.
The scheme is upgrading the road to improve safety and tackle congestion, but it’s also one of the projects included in ADEPT Live Labs 2: Decarbonising Local Roads in the UK – a three-year, UK-wide £30 million programme, funded by the Department for Transport, that aims to decarbonise the local highway network.
New and emerging carbon saving innovations, technologies, processes, materials and standards will be tested on this live construction site in order to demonstrate the carbon savings that are feasible.
New A382 roundabout to open as Forches Cross closure begins
The new Whitehills Roundabout (Jetty Marsh) is expected to open on the 10th of August, replacing the old triangle junction on Exeter Road.
Drivers using the A382 near Newton Abbot are being advised about changes to their journeys as the new roundabout opens and the next phase of roadworks begins.
It is the latest stage of the £50 million A382 improvement scheme, which aims to make the road safer, reduce delays and provide better routes for people walking and cycling.
When the roundabout opens, drivers will be able to use it to join the A382 towards Forches Cross, or continue on Exeter Road towards Teigngrace and Kingsteignton.
The exit for the new Jetty Marsh bypass towards Newton Abbot will remain closed for now while the embankment settles before the road is built.
This will not affect traffic using the new roundabout. The link road is due to open in autumn 2027.
Shared walking and cycling paths have also been provided on the roundabout extending current access as far as Stover School.
As the roundabout opens, attention will move to Forches Cross, where a section of the A382 will close for around 12 months.
The closure is needed so the road can be widened, realigned and made safer.
The brow of the hill will be lowered by around three metres to improve visibility, and the Staplehill Road junction will be replaced with a new roundabout and crossing facilities.
A new dedicated right-turn lane will also be provided for Stover School.
A new section of road will be built to the west of the current A382. The existing road will then become a shared walking and cycling route, linking Newton Abbot with the surrounding area towards Dartmoor.
Access to businesses and properties near Forches Cross will be kept open, with the old Staplehill Road used for access during the closure.
Access to Trago Mills and Stover School will continue on the existing diversion routes via the A383 and Clay Lane/Clay Pits Way. Updated diversion signs will be in place.
Work has already been carried out to help keep the closure as short as possible, including utility diversions for fibre optics, electricity and water, as well as vegetation clearance.
Carbon negative road
We’re aiming to reduce the estimated carbon footprint of the scheme to beyond zero without the need for offsetting.
The outcomes of this Live Labs trial will be directly applicable to the majority of highways projects in the UK, resulting in a legacy from which future schemes will benefit through carbon savings and capital cost reductions. For further information about Live Labs 2, see the ADEPT website.