North Devon Link Road will be finished this summer

After three years the £60million upgrade to the North Devon Link Road is set to be finished this summer.

The long-awaited project led by Devon County Council will see sections of the A361 between Landkey and South Molton widened to improve overtaking opportunities as well as upgrades to several junctions and roundabouts to improve both safety and journey times.

Contractor Alun Griffiths has warned motorists there will be one last spell of disruption during the next five weeks, with overnight closures and daytime traffic lights as workers complete the final essential major jobs.

The night-time closures will start on Monday (February 19) and run until March 22 between the Landkey roundabout and North Aller roundabout at the Bish Mill turn off.

During weekdays, two sets of temporary traffic lights will regulate traffic from 6am to 8pm on the same stretch of road.

But subject to weather conditions, it is anticipated the whole project will be completed by this summer in time to welcome visitors to the area.

For decades people in North Devon and successive local politicians and MPs have called for the A361 to be upgraded following numerous fatal collisions as well as the need for a better transport link into the area to boost the local economy.

Above: The new Landkey roundabout that replaced a T-junction and is substantially complete, with foundation piling in foreground for new foot/cycle bridge. Credit: DCC

Following consultation by Devon County Council (DCC), the government approved funding to develop a business case. After this, an original £93million was earmarked but this was later downgraded to £60m.

This still allowed for a huge amount of work to be carried out to improve the notorious road and in February 2021 work began.

To local drivers and visitors, it may well seem longer than three as the sight of roadworks on the A361 and longer journeys due to temporary 40mph speed limits had become the norm.

The project has seen a raft of improvements made to the key Link Road junctions between Landkey and South Molton, with Landkey, West Buckland, Hacche Lane and Borners Bridge junctions all upgraded.

A new bridge is currently being built at West Buckland while Landkey has seen the addition of a roundabout as well as a new pedestrian and cycle bridge.

Above: The new 'stone arch' bridge being built at West Buckland. Credit: DCC

Sections of the road will be widened to three lanes to provide more overtaking opportunities, though initial plans for road widening between Portmore and Landkey were withdrawn from the project due to budget constraints.

Dozens of people have been killed in collisions on the A361, with the total standing at 30 as of 2018 and more have lost their lives since then.

While the road itself is not considered much worse statistically than any UK A road, some of the junctions such as the West Buckland junction as well as Landkey had a reputation for being dangerous due to their layout.

It is hoped the improvements will make a difference to the road and enable motorists to exit and enter more safely.

As part of the forthcoming disruption due to final essential works, contractor Griffiths needs to excavate the road in a number of areas to waterproof five major structures beneath the highway.

Drainage improvements, safety barrier replacement and resurfacing will also be undertaken at the same time.

The nightly closures and daytime traffic lights run on week days until March 22, but there will be no closures at weekends.

Motorists have been asked to allow more time for their journeys if possible.

For more information and the latest updates on the North Devon Link Road, go to www.devon.gov.uk/ndlr and also follow the links through to the Griffiths project page.