Work complete on first phase of new junction east of Tiverton
The first phase of work on a new £5.7 million junction off the A361 near Tiverton has been completed.
The junction is the first element of new infrastructure links to developments planned for the east of Tiverton. The initial project has been finished on time and on budget, enabling both lanes of the North Devon Link Road to re-open.
The infrastructure in place so far will enable the rest of the highway network in the area to be constructed, unlocking the development of homes, a primary school and employment land earmarked in Mid Devon’s Local Plan.
The scheme has been delivered with funding from the NPIF (National Productivity Infrastructure Fund), Challenge Funding, Devon County Council, Mid Devon District Council, developer contributions, and Heart of the South West LEP Growth Deal funding.
Councillor Andrea Davis, Devon County Council Cabinet Member with responsibility for Infrastructure and Development, said: “Everyone involved with this project has pulled out all the stops to complete this first phase on time and ensure that the lane closures on the Link Road have been removed before the busy summer holidays. I would like to thank local motorists for being so patient while work was being carried out next to the dual carriageway. This is the first vital section of infrastructure to be provided in this scheme, enabling growth and development to follow on, and our teams are now working on the second phase of the junction.”
Councillor Colin Slade, County Councillor for Tiverton East and Mid Devon District Councillor for the Lowman ward, said: “I am really pleased that this phase has been finished on time and is looking good too! I look forward to the next stage that will connect it via a new roundabout to Blundell’s Road. As with the completion of this stage of the junction, every effort will be made during construction periods to ease disruption and the impact on those living and working in Tiverton, but particularly on near neighbours.”
Councillor Richard Chesterton, Cabinet Member for Planning and Economic Regeneration at Mid Devon District Council, said: “I’m delighted the first phase of construction has been completed on schedule. It’s great news for the Tiverton Eastern Urban Extension. This represents a clear commitment by Mid Devon District Council to deliver infrastructure alongside new housing and employment space for people who want to move to Tiverton and take advantage of the opportunities it has on offer. We are an ambitious Council and we have shown that we are able to push for improvements in our district and make these a reality.”
Chair of the Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership, Steve Hindley CBE DL, said: “Yet another of our Growth Deal allocation projects is completed – we funded £1.5m towards the scheme in order to ease congestion and open up development land to create a thousand homes and six hundred jobs.”
The link to Blundells Road, connecting with phase one of the junction, will be completed by the developer, although a completion date is not yet known. Devon County Council will build phase two, which is on the northern side of the A361 and the bridge across the A361. MDDC has been successful with its Housing Infrastructure Fund bid for this phase and an official award of the funding is anticipated in the autumn.
While undertaking the junction works, contractor Alun Griffiths Contracting Ltd also carried out the resurfacing on the western section of the A361 from Bolham roundabout to east of Gornhay Junction as part of a £5 million upgrade of the North Devon Link Road’s surface and drainage.
Resurfacing work will not be carried out over the summer months. However, it will resume in September, with Mildren Construction carrying out maintenance work on the east section (east of Gornhay Junction to junction 27 of the M5) of the North Devon Link Road.
