Sandy Park Junction turf cutting

A turf cutting has been held to mark the recent start of improvements to the A379 Sandy Park Junction in Exeter

Earthworks are underway on the £2.5 million upgrade to create a signalised junction which will allow all traffic movements. A recent overnight closure has enabled temporary barriers to be installed to protect the workforce and also road users from excavations.

The current junction, which accesses Sandy Park rugby ground and David Lloyd leisure centre, has a ‘left-in, left-out’ traffic system. The upgrade will enable right turns in and out of the site in order to improve access to planned employment and housing development in the Newcourt area of the city. It will also reduce traffic flows looping around the Sandygate (M5 Junction 30) and Russell Way junctions.

The scheme is expected to take six months to complete, during which time the A379 will be reduced to one lane in each direction. However, following an analysis of traffic flows, to minimise the impact on traffic, two lanes will be maintained on the A379 inbound (westbound) between 7.30am and 9.30am, Monday to Friday, and two lanes will be maintained outbound (eastbound) from 4pm to 6.30pm, Monday to Friday.

Sandy Park Way will be widened to include three exit lanes, with two right turn lanes and one left turn. The A379 will also be widened to provide an additional inbound (westbound) lane through to the existing Russell Way junction together with a new right turn lane on the outbound (eastbound) approach to the revised junction.

The scheme is being 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.

Access to facilities at Sandy Park is being maintained.