Key Torquay road partially reopens after sewer collapse

Ilsham Marine Drive in Torquay has partially reopened, giving residents and visitors an alternative route into the Ilsham estate.

The road was closed last year following a collapsed sewer and subsequent settlement of the road surface. Torbay Council engineers, alongside geologists, have now completed repairs and assessments, allowing a temporary layout to be put in place.

The new route, just north of the entrance to Kilmorie Flats, operates as a two-way “Priority Give Way” system, with uphill traffic given priority. It is open to motor vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists.

The temporary arrangement is expected to remain for around 18 months, during which geologists will carry out ongoing monitoring and provide reports to the council.

The reopening restores an important alternative access point to the Ilsham estate, which had relied on a single-entry route since the closure.