Work starts on £9.3m Devon junction upgrade

Work will start this month on a £9.3m scheme to provide an extra lane to ease congestion at one of Devon’s busiest junctions.

The work, at Splatford, near Exeter, is part of the Government’s Pinch Point Programme and will extend the existing two lanes of the A380 to the junction with the A38 and continue to the Wobbly Wheel junction.

Construction overseen by EM Highways Services is due to be completed in March 2015.

Initial work between now and the end of the month will involve the installation of CCTV cameras and crossing points for contraflow traffic, which will take place overnight.

During the majority of the work, five traffic lanes will be maintained with two lanes in each direction and the centre lane used to cater for peak commuter flows (eastbound in the mornings and westbound in the evenings).

A temporary 50mph speed limit will be enforced from this week with average speed cameras for the safety of road users and the workforce.

The increase in capacity on the road will improve the flow of traffic through the area which suffers severe congestion and delays.

It will also cater for traffic following the opening of the Kingskerswell bypass due at the end of 2015.

Highways Agency project sponsor, David Stock, said: "This major investment in the A38 will reduce congestion and help economic development in the wider Exeter area.

"Drivers will benefit from reduced journey times through reduced congestion at peak times."