New junction plans for Sandy Park

Mary Youlden
Authored by Mary Youlden
Posted Thursday, June 18, 2015 - 7:08am

Residents are being invited to have their say on plans to improve access to Sandy Park in Exeter.

Devon County Council has launched an online consultation on proposals to upgrade the existing ‘left in/left out only’ junction at Sandy Park Way to allow access to lanes in both directions on the A379.

Plans for the new junction, which will be traffic light controlled, include widening Sandy Park Way and the A379 inbound carriageway, and constructing a right turn lane on the A379 outbound carriageway for Sandy Park Way.

Councillor Andrew Leadbetter, Devon County Council’s Cabinet Member for Economy and Growth and Cabinet Liaison for Exeter, said: “At the moment traffic leaving Sandy Park and heading towards the M5 has to U-turn at Russell Way or Newcourt Way, and unfortunately some drivers also perform illegal and dangerous U-turns at the traffic lights on the A379.

“Those travelling from the city have to loop around the M5 Junction 30 to re-join the westbound carriageway, which adds to the volume of traffic at the junction.

“This scheme will reduce journey time, which will reduce vehicle emissions, improve access to the rugby club, leisure centre and future housing and retail development, and will ultimately relieve traffic, giving an extra route from Old Rydon Lane.

“Over 24,000 vehicles currently use the A379 every day, and this is set to increase with the future housing and retail developments in the area therefore putting greater pressure on the junction, so we need to make changes.

"The consultation is an opportunity for people to give us their views on these proposals, and they will be used to inform the design of the scheme which will be considered by Cabinet later in the year.”

To assist the design of the scheme, some investigations of existing ground conditions and below ground services will be required. In order to meet project timescales, and avoid disruption to the Rugby World Cup traffic, these investigations will start in late June 2015 and continue until mid-July 2015. During this time some localised traffic management will be in place.

The consultation will be open until Monday 20 July, and comments on the proposals must be submitted by this date.

To take part please visit https://new.devon.gov.uk/haveyoursay/

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