Parts of upgraded North Devon Link Road set to open
Several upgraded sections of the North Devon Link Road are due to open by Monday 11 November.
Devon County Council has been informed by their contractor Griffiths that a number of improved stretches of the A361 between Portmore roundabout at Barnstaple and Yarnacott are now complete and are set to open fully to traffic. Other sections will open in stages over the coming weeks.
Work on the improvement project between South Molton and Portmore roundabout, has been ongoing since February 2021, with Griffiths widening two sections of road to provide overtaking lanes and upgrading four junctions.
The aim of the scheme is to improve safety and the reliability of journey times for anyone travelling on the A361. It will also support economic growth and unlock planned development in North Devon. To improve the lifespan and resilience of the road, additional maintenance has been carried out during the scheme to resurface sections of the route, improve drainage and waterproof structures to reduce the need for disruptive roadworks that may otherwise have been required over the next few years.
The first upgraded sections which will open by Monday 11 November are:
Portmore roundabout to Landkey roundabout - This section has been resurfaced and includes a central hatched area to discourage overtaking. In November 2022 it was agreed that an overtaking lane and footbridge originally planned for this area had to be removed as a result of rising costs of construction materials and energy, compounded by the war in Ukraine.
Landkey roundabout and pedestrian/cycle bridge - The new Landkey roundabout will replace the old T-junction to improve safety and turning manoeuvres. It has been designed to accommodate a fourth arm that will allow access to the proposed Westacott development area to the North of this roundabout. A new cycle and pedestrian bridge has also been built at this roundabout to connect to the future Westacott development.
As the work by Griffiths nears substantial completion, the remaining elements of the scheme are scheduled to be opened in the coming weeks, with West Buckland Junction planned to be the final area to open.
The final sections which will be opening soon are:
• Landkey roundabout to Harford Cross - Drainage has been improved, the carriageway pavement upgraded, and a central hatched area has been introduced to prevent overtaking. It also includes the start of the average speed camera section, monitoring speeds between Landkey roundabout and Aller roundabout.
• Harford Cross to Yarnacott - This section has been widened to provide overtaking lanes, with a length for eastbound traffic and another length for westbound traffic. The widening involved substantial earthworks, with structures below the road, such as culverts, being extended. New drainage has been installed on this whole section to cope with heavier spells of rain.
• Yarnacott to Riverton - This section has been resurfaced with a central hatched area to prevent overtaking. All drainage in this section has been renewed.
• Riverton to West Buckland Junction - The road has been widened to provide a two stretches of overtaking lanes, one in each direction. This whole section has had new drainage upgraded to accommodate heavier spells of rain.
• West Buckland Junction - A new junction has been constructed with a new overbridge to replace the previous staggered crossroads. This new junction improves traffic safety, particularly for vehicles making a right turn or crossing the A361.
• West Buckland Junction to Filleigh Bridge - This section has been widened to provide overtaking lanes for eastbound traffic and drainage has been improved.
• Borners Bridge Junction and Hacche Lane Junction - Borners Bridge is a new elongated roundabout that replaces the previous staggered crossroads. The roundabout improves safety, particularly for vehicles making a right turn. Right turns have been prohibited at Hacche Lane T-junction to further improve safety. The existing Mill Stream culvert has been extended to accommodate the new roundabout. The adjacent bridleway has been maintained, with new footways connecting to the roundabout.
Councillor Andrea Davis, Devon County Council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Environment and Transport, said: "I’m sure people will be relieved to see this work reaching its final stages and to see some of the upgraded sections finally opening up. The result will be a road that is much more fit for purpose and much safer. Griffiths is working hard to finish all of the elements of the scheme but work will still be continuing over the next few weeks as they near completion.”
John Lee, Operations Director for Griffiths said, “This has been a complex and challenging project but from the outset Griffiths, Devon County Council and our supply chain partners have worked collaboratively to deliver this scheme, overcoming the numerous challenges along the way. As we work to conclude the scheme in the coming weeks, we would like to thank everyone in the surrounding communities in North Devon for their patience and support since the start of the project.”
The project was originally due to be completed at the end of last year but has been beset with delays following the impact on supply chains and materials caused by the Coronavirus pandemic, the war in Ukraine and rising interest rates. In November 2022, the County Council took the decision to scale back the scheme, removing the planned overtaking section between the Portmore and Landkey junctions, and amending the design of the Bishops Tawton roundabout.
After all new sections of the road have opened to traffic, landscaping and some minor work will continue.
