Final phase of road junction could start next year

At a projected cost of £10.1 million

The final phase of a new junction on the A361 North Devon Link Road in Tiverton could start next year.

It’s three years since southern side slip roads were completed for the junction being created as part of the Tiverton Eastern Urban Extension for hundreds of new homes. However, the lack of progress on the other phase led to locals calling it ‘the road to nowhere’.

This last stage will add a bridge across the link road, northern slip roads and landscaping at a current projected cost of £10.1 million, almost £2 million more than currently secured through government funding. Better news is that planning permission has been granted and agreements are in place with the landowner.

Mid Devon District Council still needs to formally give the go-ahead, but construction is due to start in September next year with completion in July 2023.

Without it, an area of the urban extension for new housing – ‘area B’ – can’t be built. Houses could be constructed until 2033, but no planning applications for housing have been submitted yet.

The junction is later than previously planned because of uncertainty over the time it will take to build a road between it and Blundell’s Road. This new road will act as the diversion for the A361 while the bridge over the link road is built. A further factor in the delay has been the need to avoid a summer embargo on A361 works.

At a meeting of the authority’s cabinet this week, Councillor Barry Warren (Independent, Lower Culm), expressed concern at the rise of almost £2 million in the projected cost. “I can’t see, or haven’t read anything in the report, as to where we’re hoping to get the difference between 8.2 and 10.1 million,” he said.

In response, Jenny Clifford, head of planning, economy and regeneration, said there will be more clarity over this figure once the tenders for the contract from construction companies have been received.

“It is at that point that I think we will get more clarity over whether it is closer to £10.1 million or more likely the £8.2 million which was the initial project cost estimate,” Mrs Clifford said.

A report to the cabinet added: “Options can then be considered further in terms of whether the contract is to be awarded or not. Further instructions can be sought from cabinet at that stage.”

Members agreed to continue working with Devon County Council to deliver the project and will make further key decisions when the result of the tendering process is known.