Beast from the East delays A379 road schemes

Snow and freezing temperatures earlier this month has delayed the completion of a road resurfacing scheme by approximately a week and caused the cancellation of three others, all on the A379.

Resurfacing work on the A379 Exeter Road in Dawlish was due for completion on March 19.

Freezing temperatures and poor weather has caused the loss of nine working days.

The scheme relies on one surface being laid and left to set before the next is applied. This process was further hampered by wet weather last weekend.

Now the weather has improved highways teams are making up for lost time and working every day to complete the scheme.

However, the delay has had a knock-on effect and led to the postponement of three other schemes on the same road.

These are on Teignmouth Hill, Dawlish, Monday 19 March, - A379 Teignmouth Hill, Dawlish; Tuesday 20 March, Iddesleigh Terrace, Dawlish; Wednesday 21 to 23 March, The Strand, Starcross; and Wednesday 21 March to 23 March, Exeter Road, Starcross.

All these schemes will be rescheduled for a later date.

Regarding the ongoing scheme on the A379 Exeter Road in Dawlish, motorists are urged to be patient with the traffic management convoy system during this time.

The site is 800m long and as a result traffic lights may take longer to change than expected.

Councillor Stuart Hughes, Devon County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways Management said: “The Beast from the East and Storm Emma caused significant disruption of our highways network and that has impacted on our programmed works.

“Work crews are working around the clock to finish the A379 scheme as quickly as possible and they are making good progress.

“If the lights appear to take longer than usual to change please be patient; they aren’t faulty, it’s because of the length of the site.

“I know this is frustrating but please be assured we are doing everything we can to complete the work as quickly as possible and keep disruption to a minimum. We appreciate your patience during this time.”