Roads now clear to cut off communities
Good progress has been made today (Sunday) in clearing roads to communities left inaccessible due to snow.
The Council’s highways teams have been throwing all available resources at breaking through to previously cut off communities.
The primary salting network across Exmoor, including B roads, is now passable. Roads to villages North East of the North Devon Link Road and a few on Dartmoor and in the South Hams, that this morning were inaccessible, are this afternoon generally passable with care.
Devon County Council says drivers on Monday morning should find the road network usable, as all roads on the primary and secondary route network – roads that take the vast majority of the county’s traffic – are clear.
Melting snow and ice at road sides and off adjacent fields have caused roads to remain wet today, with some isolated cases of surface flooding.
And with road temperatures set to fall below zero tonight in some places, Devon's highway teams will be out again gritting the main routes where it is needed.
The Council is reminding people to drive with care this evening and tomorrow and to report any cases of flooding, or blocked drains, to them online http://soc.devon.cc/1aFex
South West Water has made repairs to Topsham Road, Exeter, today, following a burst water main last week. It is anticipated that the road will be open tomorrow morning in time for rush hour traffic, but the Council is advising drivers to check first by following @DevonAlert or listening to local radio.
Schools are expected to be open from Monday, with school transport routes running normally. But families are reminded to check the Council’s school closure webpage for the latest information about their child’s school https://new.devon.gov.uk/schools/closure/
Elsewhere today, South West Water (SWW) has been working hard to resolve a water supply issue in North Devon and Torridge. The Council has been working with the agency throughout the day to ensure that vulnerable residents within the affected areas, who are unable to leave their homes, receive deliveries of bottled water.
Councillor Stuart Hughes, Devon County Council's Cabinet Member with responsibility for highway management, said:
"It's been a very challenging few days. Those communities to which their roads are now unblocked will be especially relieved I'm sure at today’s progress.
"With sub-zero surface temperatures and water on the roads tonight, and even though we have our gritting fleet out again overnight, we're advising road users to travel with care.
“My thanks to our highways contractor, Skanska, to our own highways teams, and to the many farmers and volunteers who have helped us in keeping Devon moving.”
