£5 million resurfacing improvements for North Devon Link Road

The North Devon Link Road is to undergo a major £5 million upgrade of its road surface and drainage, Transport Minister Jesse Norman has announced.

Sections of the A361 will be improved, following Devon County Council’s successful bid for Challenge Funding. Devon is one of nineteen areas across the country to receive a share of £75 million of government investment for essential road maintenance.

The Minister confirmed that Devon will receive £4.25 million from the Department for Transport to improve the road surface on parts of the North Devon Link Road. The remainder of the scheme funding is from Devon County Council and developer contributions.

Low noise surface will used on the link road and the new junction which will be constructed to access developments to the east of Tiverton.

As part of the scheme, Devon County Council has already funded essential drainage improvements on the A361, which has been completed three weeks ahead of schedule. Overnight work on the filter drains on the stretch of the Link Road from Junction 27 of the M5 to Tiverton was due to continue throughout August, but was completed in the early hours of Saturday (29 July).

Transport Minister Jesse Norman MP said: “We are taking the big decisions for Britain’s future by investing in the infrastructure the country needs and ensuring motorists have the well maintained roads they expect and deserve.”

Using the Challenge Funding on a major road enables the County Council to use other highway maintenance funding on more minor routes on its 8,000 mile highway network as well as supporting volunteer Community Road Wardens.

Over 40 volunteers from town and parish councils have signed up as Community Road Wardens, enabling them to carry out a range of duties including minor work such as weed clearance, grass cutting, sign cleaning, small drainage work, and minor road repairs. A further 130 volunteers from 80 parish and town councils have received Chapter 8 training funded by Devon County Council, with more than 30 from other organisations such as district councils and probation service undertaking the training.

Councillor Stuart Hughes, Devon County Council Cabinet Member for Highway Management, said: “This is a very welcome announcement of funding to carry out necessary surface improvements on one of our major roads in the county. The Government funding for resurfacing the North Devon Link Road will enable us to focus support toward more minor roads across Devon, and continue the roll-out of our Community Road Warden Scheme and our Highway Maintenance Community Enhancement Fund.”

Through £95,000 of Devon County Council’s Highway Maintenance Community Enhancement Fund (HMCEF) last year these volunteers delivered work with a value of more than £168,000.

Ken Browse, Community Road Warden for Halberton, said: “We care about our community and the people in our community, and with a lack of funding available for upper tier authorities, volunteers from parish councils can roll up our sleeves and step in to help. It was a good opportunity for the Minister to see what we’re doing at grass roots level.”