Official ceremony marks Sandy Park junction completion

A special ceremony has been held to celebrate completion of the recent improvements to the Sandy Park junction in Exeter.

The £2.5 million junction was opened ahead of schedule in April.

To mark its completion, Devon County Council chairman Ray Radford unveiled a plaque at the site today (Friday 30 June) and also took the opportunity to congratulate the Exeter Chiefs on their recent Aviva Premiership title triumph.

The upgraded layout has provided a signalised junction that now allows right turns in and out of the site, improving access to the Sandy Park Stadium and David Lloyd leisure centre as well as planned developments in the Newcourt area of the city.

The scheme was funded by the Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership’s (HotSW LEP) Growth Deal 1, Exeter City Council’s Community Infrastructure Levy, and Devon County Council.

Devon County Council Chairman Ray Radford said: “This is a great example of authorities working together to make further improvements to Devon’s highway infrastructure.”

Councillor Andrea Davis, Devon County Council Cabinet Member for Infrastructure, Development and Waste Management, said: “The upgrade of this junction should ease congestion at a key junction off the busy A379 and establishes a better access to future housing and economic developments.”

Tony Rowe OBE, Chief Executive of the Exeter Chiefs, said: “With the increasing popularity of Sandy Park Conference and Banqueting Centre, plus the growing match-day crowds watching the Chiefs, the new junction will not only help ease traffic flow to and from the venue, but it will make it easier for people wanting to get to the M5.”

Steve Hindley, CBE DL, Chair of the Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “This scheme is another example of the LEP’s successful Growth Deal funded projects which are coming to fruition this year. It’s great to see this important new project completed, it will unlock development land for housing and business – which is a core aim of the LEP – and is another piece in the jigsaw in creating the physical conditions for growth.”

Councillor Rosie Denham Exeter City Council's Lead Councillor for City Transformation, Energy and Transport, said: “This scheme unlocks development of an important site for homes and employment and with IKEA on the way, paves the way for continued economic growth of the city."

Widening has also been carried out on Sandy Park Way, creating three exit lanes, with two right turn lanes and one left turn. There is also an additional inbound (westbound) lane on the A379 through to the existing Russell Way junction together with a new right turn lane on the outbound (eastbound) approach to the revised junction.