Devon County Council : £1.1 million upgrade of junction in Barnstaple

Posted on: 10 January 2017

The junction on the A39 North Road in Barnstaple is to be upgraded, with work due to start early next month (February).

Devon County Council is converting the current signal-controlled junction, which serves Westaway Plain and North Devon District Hospital, into a roundabout in order to increase capacity and tackle congestion.

The scheme, costing £1.1 million, is being funded by the County Council using developer contributions and is expected to take 15 weeks to complete.

A public consultation for a roundabout scheme was held in 2014. The scheme incorporates pedestrian and cycle facilities at the junction and on North Road to the south, as well as a new Toucan crossing linking Westaway Heights with the lower pedestrian entrance to the Hospital.

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Councillor Andrew Leadbetter

Councillor Andrew Leadbetter, Devon County Council Cabinet Member for Economy and Growth, said: 'Traffic is regularly delayed at this junction during peak times, and demand is only going to increase with new developments planned for the area. Constructing a roundabout will provide the additional capacity that is needed to meet the current and predicted future traffic demands. Once again this is proof that Devon County Council is investing money into Northern Devon.'

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Councillor Andrea Davis

Councillor Andrea Davis, Devon County Councillor for Combe Martin Rural, said: 'I am disappointed that this roundabout is necessary in the first place however with the amount of development that has been agreed it is vital that this roundabout goes in to prevent total grid lock in the area. It will be disruptive for the duration of the construction however it is good to see local infrastructure being improved for residents.'

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Councillor Brian Greenslade

Councillor Brian Greenslade, Devon County Councillor for Barnstaple North, said: 'There is already a traffic issue at the Hospital junction without the pressure new developments will bring. Therefore this investment will be helpful in relieving existing and anticipated traffic congestion.'

Devon County Council and North Devon District Hospital have been working closely together with the contractor, Alun Griffiths Civil Engineering and Construction, to plan the works to minimise the effects on the public accessing the hospital. Temporary traffic lights will be used for some periods of the work, and Roborough Lane to the A39 Shirwell Road will be closed for two weeks during the scheme.

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