North Devon bridges concerns over Link Road footbridge

The ongoing development of the A361 Link Road has sparked considerable debate among North Devon residents, with particular attention focused on the construction of a footbridge at the Landkey roundabout. 

The project, carried out by contractor Griffiths and slated for completion this summer, has led locals to question both its necessity and its execution.

One regular user of the route said: “It all looks like a colossal waste of money.”

In response to these concerns, the Gazette contacted Devon County Council, the authority responsible for monitoring road conditions in the region. 

Below are the key questions posed to the council and their detailed responses.

What is the cost of the new bridge at Landkey?

The council confirmed that the structure is the Landkey Footbridge. They explained that the entire Link Road improvement scheme is covered under a single contract with Griffiths, making the specific costs of individual elements, such as the bridge, commercially sensitive and undisclosed.

What traffic is it designed to carry, and how many crossings are estimated each year?

"The footbridge is designed for use by pedestrians and cyclists. Initially, traffic is expected to be light, but the council anticipates that usage will increase as nearby developments are completed. This increase in pedestrian and cyclist traffic is projected to enhance safety at the roundabout."

Why has the project overrun its budget and schedule?

Devon County Council said their budget remains unchanged since the previously announced change in December last year  ‘Main Works’ contract varied to counter inflationary price rises - The North Devon Link Road. The council said: "We do not have information on the contractor’s budget."

There appears to be a shortage of workers on site, hindering meaningful progress

"The resource level on site is dependent on a number of factors including the sequence of works which dictates that some activities need to be completed before others can start. So not all work can be progressed simultaneously. The constraints of a very long linear site adjacent to live traffic also affects the resource levels. A lot of the work is being carried out during overnight road closures to minimise disruption and therefore people are not passing the site during these closures to be able to see the workers."

Who is managing the works on behalf of the council?

"The contract is a ‘design and build’ type that gives the contractor the responsibility to design all of the works and to manage the construction of all of the works. The contractor is responsible for all aspects of the work including the supervision, programming, resourcing etc. The role of the County Council is to monitor the work."

Why are there still 30mph restrictions at GBD South Molton Junction?

"The 30mph restrictions are to protect the workforce who are working adjacent to a busy junction and the intention is for this speed limit to be maintained until the work at that junction is complete."