Newton Abbot A382 closures ‘causing traffic hell’ says local MP

Roadworks around Newton Abbot have been described as “hell” in the House of Commons by the town’s MP, who says councils are powerless to prevent utility companies from causing problems.

Traders in the town say issues caused by long-term projects on main roads leading in and out of Newton Abbot have been exacerbated by additional roadworks for pipes and cables.

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Liberal Democrat MP Martin Wrigley met angry traders at a meeting in Newton Abbot last week and was told the town had been hit by “gridlock” since the roadworks began.

The main A382, which links the town to the A38 at Drum Bridges, will be closed until August between the MG garage and Whitehills. Another section of the same road will then close for a further 12 months.

Mr Wrigley said communication from Devon County Council had been poor. He argued that instead of carrying out the A382 works in two phases, engineers should have started at either end and met in the middle, “like the Channel Tunnel”.

He said businesses directly affected should seek compensation and added that stronger controls on utility companies would help prevent further disruption.

During a Commons debate, he said: “Roadworks in my constituency are causing traffic hell, and residents have had enough.

“With the two-year closure of the A382 for much-needed work, utility companies are taking advantage by carrying out roadworks everywhere, and the county council is powerless to make them co-operate and co-ordinate. What does the Secretary of State suggest I say to my residents?”

ABOVE: The A382 improvement plans (Image: Devon County Council)

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander, the Labour MP for Swindon South, said he may wish to tell residents about the government’s determination to tackle the issue.

She said: “For example, we have doubled the fines that local authorities can charge utility companies when works overrun. 

‘I recognise how disruptive these works are for local communities, and it is an issue that the government takes very seriously.”

A joint statement issued by Devon County Council and Teignbridge District Council said that while a great deal of planning goes into co-ordinating roadworks, it is not always possible to schedule works consecutively, with emergency or unplanned issues creating unavoidable overlaps.

The statement added: “At present, several major road improvement schemes linked to long-term infrastructure changes are under way across the town.

“These, combined with immediate and unavoidable repairs, have created significant challenges on the road network.”

The A382 improvements are designed to improve safety, ease congestion and provide better active travel links by upgrading and realigning the road between Forches Cross and Stover, as well as developing the Jetty Marsh Link Road to connect West Golds Way to the A382.

Works include road widening, new roundabouts, extending the shared-use path for cyclists and pedestrians, and creating a dedicated right turn at Stover School.