Consultation proposed for A361/A39
An informal consultation on a series of improvements to the A361 and A39 will be proposed to Devon County councillors next week (Wednesday 9 July).
The Council has been looking at improving the North Devon Link Road’s journey time reliability and connectivity to the M5, following long running concerns over delays and congestion, particularly in the summer months with the increased tourist traffic travelling to Northern Devon. With significant levels of housing and jobs growth planned in North Devon, Torridge and Tiverton over the next 10 to 15 years, improvements to the A361 are needed to accommodate the increase in vehicles and keep existing and new developments well connected to the rest of the country.
The County Council has produced a leaflet, “Gateway to Northern Devon – A strategy for the North Devon Link Road” which outlines the strategy proposals.
The Council’s Cabinet is being asked to agree that the leaflet, which will be available online and in libraries, is used for informal consultation and that further feasibility work is carried out to develop schemes along the routes. Individual schemes would be subject to more detailed consultation.
The strategy includes proposals to increase the capacity of roundabouts at Heywood Road at Bideford, Bishop’s Tawton roundabout and Bolham roundabout, Tiverton. A fourth exit and capacity improvement is also proposed at Portmore roundabout to serve future development. The T-junction at Abbotsham Road could be improved to a “grade separated“ junction, similar to those typically found on dual carriageways. This type of junction may also be introduced at Tiverton for the Eastern Urban Extension and Borner’s Bridge, South Molton, together with other junction improvements along the route. Additional lanes are also being considered between Tiverton and Barnstaple, and between Bishops Tawton and Roundswell, which is the busiest section of the corridor and is predicted to exceed capacity by 2031.
Councillor Andrew Leadbetter, Devon County Council Cabinet Member for Economy and Growth, said: “This is an opportunity for people to get involved in this important strategy. Although the first phase of improvements at Roundswell roundabout has been completed, other elements are proposals at this stage. We would like to hear the views of as many people as possible on these suggestions. The North Devon Link Road and A39 are well used routes for commuters, businesses and tourists, and journey time reliability is a problem, particularly at a number of pinch points along the route. We want to address these problem areas in order to support economic growth and the delivery of the Local Plan proposals for housing and employment along this corridor.”
Funding for the individual schemes would potentially come from developer contributions and the Local Enterprise Partnership’s Local Growth Fund, with Devon County Council funding preparation of business cases, designs and purchase of land.
Heywood Road, phase two of Roundswell, and phase one of Portmore to Landkey are likely to be included in the LEP’s Growth Deal proposals to Government for 2015/16. The Government is expected to announce its Growth Deal allocations for the next financial year later this month.
Photo: Lewis Clarke.
