Barnstaple junction upgrade approved, but major questions remain

Key details, including when work will begin, have yet to be confirmed for the approved £862,900 improvement scheme at the A3125/Longbridge junction in Barnstaple, Devon County Council has said.

Although the scheme has been approved by councillors, the council said there is currently no planned start date for construction.

Officers said the timetable will depend on several factors, including the resolution of traffic regulation orders (TROs), requirements from statutory undertakers, the availability of traffic signal and street lighting contractors, and when road space can be booked.

An expected completion date has also not been confirmed. 

However, the council said the aim would be to complete the scheme before the end of 2026. Funding through the government’s Active Travel Fund requires projects to be finished before the end of March 2027.

Details of how traffic will be managed during the works are not yet known. 

The council said traffic management arrangements will be planned to minimise disruption and may involve phasing of works and off-peak operations. 

At this stage, it has not been confirmed whether road closures, diversions, temporary signals, lane closures or journey time impacts will be required.

The layout approved by cabinet is not yet final and remains subject to the outcome of the TRO consultation. 

The council said the scheme will be reviewed once the consultation concludes. 

Powers have been delegated to the Director of Climate Change, Environment and Transport, in consultation with the cabinet member for climate change and biodiversity and relevant local members, to make minor amendments. 

Any major changes would require the scheme to return to cabinet for approval.

The council confirmed that a left-turn restriction for vehicles under seven metres included in the plans will be permanent. 

Enforcement would be carried out by the police, with county councils also able to enforce moving traffic restrictions subject to approval from the Department for Transport.

No contractor has yet been appointed. 

Procurement is expected to take place through the new Minor Engineering Framework Contract, which comes into operation on April 1, 2026.

The council said the scheme will include a number of accessibility improvements for disabled users, including visually impaired pedestrians and mobility scooter users.

These include a new signal-controlled two-stage toucan crossing on Station Road, which is currently an uncontrolled crossing.

Further changes include a simplified junction layout, with carriageway space rebalanced to increase areas for people walking, wheeling and cycling. 

A three-stage toucan crossing of the A3125 will be replaced with a single-stage toucan crossing, while the three-stage toucan crossing of Seven Brethren Bank will be replaced with a single-stage parallel crossing, giving priority to those crossing.

Environmental assessments, including a carbon footprint for the scheme, will be produced during the detailed design phase, with a contractor carbon report to follow after construction.

The council said no trees or habitats are expected to be affected, as most of the work will take place within the existing carriageway, with opportunities for additional greening created by reducing carriageway space.