North Devon Link improvements

The study of British and Irish roads - their construction, numbering, history, mapping, past and future official roads proposals and general roads musings.

There is a separate forum for Street Furniture (traffic lights, street lights, road signs etc).

Registered users get access to other forums including discussions about other forms of transport, driving, fantasy roads and wishlists, and roads quizzes.

Moderator: Site Management Team

DavidBrown
Member
Posts: 8398
Joined: Sun May 29, 2005 00:35

Re: North Devon Link improvements

Post by DavidBrown »

Government funding for the scheme approved.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/upgr ... t-business
shelleysho
New Member
Posts: 1
Joined: Tue Jun 12, 2018 11:52

Re: North Devon Link improvements

Post by shelleysho »

I hope this is ok to post, and please excuse me for being a bit of a cynic about the so-called North Devon Link Road Improvements.

The £93m is being spent just around Barnstaple, effectively as bypass improvements, instead of improving the A361 from Barnstaple towards the M5 because of politics: North Devon (maj.4k) is a marginal seat, whereas Tiverton (maj. 20k) and Bideford/Torridge (maj.18.5k) are both very safe seats.

These improvements are completely misplaced as they will do nothing whatsoever at all to improve journey times and reliability of journey times to Tiverton, the M5 and connectivity to the motorway network.
The £93m should first of been spent on dualling as much as possible of the A361 to Tiverton, before improvements around Barnstaple were considered.
Improved and reliable journey times to the M5 is what was called for.

This is why North Devon & Torridge suffer economically while Exeter and South & East Devon prosper at their expense; it is Devon’s very own North/South divide, highlighted by HotSW’s view of North Devon; side-lined just an area for only secondary investment.
Page 6 map refers to North Devon as ‘secondary growth’, and it is not even included in any of Page 7’s ‘Cores, Clusters and Corridors’
http://www.torbay.gov.uk/media/10207/he ... rategy.pdf

Even from a safety angle since 2000 their have been more fatalities from South Molton to the M5, than around Barnstaple.
https://www.devonlive.com/news/devon-ne ... nk-1557147

I understand that 2+2 roads with concrete/jersey/f-shape barrier need much less road width than a traditional central reservation.
This I believe would potentially make it cheaper to dual especially the existing A361 3 lane sections and 2 lane sections with wide verges.
Just a thought.........
User avatar
A303Chris
Elected Committee Member
Posts: 3587
Joined: Mon Sep 20, 2004 14:01
Location: Reading

Re: North Devon Link improvements

Post by A303Chris »

According to this DfT press release yesterday , the government has given £60 million to Devon CC to start the first set of improvements between South Molton and Barnstaple, with work beginning next month. However it seems to be to accommodate new homes and jobs between the two towns, so is likely to be overloaded again very quickly.
The M25 - The road to nowhere
DavidBrown
Member
Posts: 8398
Joined: Sun May 29, 2005 00:35

Re: North Devon Link improvements

Post by DavidBrown »

Signs have appeared at either end of the scheme area saying 'Work Starts Here January 2021 for 35 months', so it looks like the main works will be starting imminently.
User avatar
Bryn666
Elected Committee Member
Posts: 35755
Joined: Thu Jun 20, 2002 20:54
Contact:

Re: North Devon Link improvements

Post by Bryn666 »

Development led instead of safety/capacity led... oh, great. Expect some really shonky roundabouts with dodgy geometry, and buffer 50 limits then.
Bryn
Terminally cynical, unimpressed, and nearly Middle Age already.
She said life was like a motorway; dull, grey, and long.

Blog - https://showmeasign.online/
X - https://twitter.com/ShowMeASignBryn
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@BrynBuck
SteveA30
Member
Posts: 6018
Joined: Fri May 06, 2005 12:52
Location: Dorset

Re: North Devon Link improvements

Post by SteveA30 »

Where are these 8 junctions that are being 'upgraded'? There are only 2 minor at grade junctions between S Molton and Barnstaple and 4 rbts on the bypass, which are more towards Bideford. One of them has a new development but, the access rbt is correctly on the B3232, not on the bypass.
Roads and holidays in the west, before motorways.
http://trektothewest.shutterfly.com
http://holidayroads.webs.com/
Herned
Member
Posts: 1363
Joined: Thu Jul 20, 2017 09:15

Re: North Devon Link improvements

Post by Herned »

SteveA30 wrote: Mon Jan 18, 2021 17:12 Where are these 8 junctions that are being 'upgraded'?
It's all the way from Bideford to South Molton. Summary map here. Astonishingly including a new GSJ
DavidBrown
Member
Posts: 8398
Joined: Sun May 29, 2005 00:35

Re: North Devon Link improvements

Post by DavidBrown »

Bryn666 wrote: Mon Jan 18, 2021 15:38 Development led instead of safety/capacity led... oh, great. Expect some really shonky roundabouts with dodgy geometry, and buffer 50 limits then.
The worst thing is that the whole scheme has been campaigned for and sold as safety/capacity led, and yet the design is very much one of being development led. I did submit an objection to the scheme at consultation on those very grounds, but surprise surprise never heard a thing since. :roll:
SteveA30 wrote:Where are these 8 junctions that are being 'upgraded'? There are only 2 minor at grade junctions between S Molton and Barnstaple and 4 rbts on the bypass, which are more towards Bideford. One of them has a new development but, the access rbt is correctly on the B3232, not on the bypass.
I assume they're including junctions that have already been "improved";
Borner's Bridge - conversion to roundabout.
Hacche Lane - conversion to LILO.
West Buckland - conversion to compact GSJ, including new overbridge.
Landkey - conversion to 4-arm roundabout to also serve new development.
Portmore roundabout - enlarging of roundabout completed 2019. Plans for 4th arm to serve new development.
Bishop's Tawton - enlarging of roundabout and new pedestrian/cycle underpass.
Roundswell - enlarging of roundabout completed 2014.
Westleigh - traffic signals added, completed 2012.
User avatar
Chris Bertram
Member
Posts: 15744
Joined: Tue Nov 13, 2001 12:30
Location: Birmingham, England

Re: North Devon Link improvements

Post by Chris Bertram »

Time to improve the Tarka Line, there are definitely some places where doubling the line to provide passing opportunities is possible. I followed a driver's eye video the other day and there are quite a few bridges with an unused second trackbed.
“The quality of any advice anybody has to offer has to be judged against the quality of life they actually lead.” - Douglas Adams.

Did you know there's more to SABRE than just the Forums?
Add your roads knowledge to the SABRE Wiki today!
Have you browsed SABRE Maps recently? Try getting involved!
SteveA30
Member
Posts: 6018
Joined: Fri May 06, 2005 12:52
Location: Dorset

Re: North Devon Link improvements

Post by SteveA30 »

Re-opening the island platform would be a start, preferably on both sides.
Roads and holidays in the west, before motorways.
http://trektothewest.shutterfly.com
http://holidayroads.webs.com/
User avatar
jackal
Member
Posts: 7549
Joined: Tue Jan 08, 2008 23:33
Location: M6

Re: North Devon Link improvements

Post by jackal »

A few years back I mentioned the plans for a new GSJ at the Tiverton Eastern Urban Extension. At the time a LILO was constructed on the westbound carriageway with plans to make a funding bid for the eastbound slips and bridge to complete the GSJ.

The westbound slips were completed in 2018 and have been sitting idle as "the road to nowhere" ever since:
Image
Funding has now been secured to complete the GSJ as planned:

Image

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.devonl ... 606457.amp
DavidBrown
Member
Posts: 8398
Joined: Sun May 29, 2005 00:35

Re: North Devon Link improvements

Post by DavidBrown »

Work well under way now with a site compound set up near Landkey, plenty of vegetation clearance taking place along the route (between Landkey and West Buckland, at least), and overnight closures for the next couple of weeks to set up the main traffic management in the form of narrow lanes and a 40 limit.
User avatar
wrinkly
Member
Posts: 8990
Joined: Tue Mar 04, 2008 12:17
Location: Leeds

Re: North Devon Link improvements

Post by wrinkly »

According to NCE, inflation has led to suspension of the procurement of the bridge and eastbound slip roads in the junction discussed above:

https://www.newcivilengineer.com/latest ... 4-07-2022/
The second phase of work on a Devon road project has been shelved due to rising costs.

Procurement for the second phase of construction for a new junction on the A361 North Devon Link Road in Tiverton has been pulled as the local council seeks funds to match inflationary cost increases.

Contractors Alun Griffiths completed construction of the west-bound slip roads in 2018, but it has not progressed to the next phase, leading the local community to refer to it as “the road to nowhere”.

Phase two will see the east-bound slip roads and a bridge over the A361 constructed. The project has previously received £8.2M from Homes England’s Housing Infrastructure Fund (HIF) as it will serve a new housing development known as Tiverton Eastern Urban Extension. An August 2021 Cabinet report said the cost of the scheme had risen to £10.1M, leaving Mid Devon District Council (MDDC) with a £1.9M shortfall.

Devon County Council, MDDC’s delivery partner, proceeded with the tendering process, but bids returned “significantly exceeded” the expected increase of £1.9M. This is due to “significant increases in construction sector costs and the need for an increased contingency to reflect the current contractor marketplace and the volatile prices of steel, concrete and aggregate,” according to MDDC.

Discussions have taken place between key stakeholder organisation to find the missing sum, but funds have not been forthcoming, therefore commencement of the works cannot be instructed at this time. The tender process has been stopped and bidders notified that MDDC will no longer be seeking a contractor for the works at this time.

However, MDDC is under obligation to deliver the scheme by September 2023 due to the grant from the HIF. If it is not delivered, Homes England will be entitled to claw-back the grant funding paid to MDDC, at its own discretion.

Further work will be undertaken to explore opportunities to deliver the work in a timely manner. MDDC will investigate means to reduce construction costs or identify additional or alternative accelerated funding. The results of this work will be returned to MDDC Cabinet to determine the next steps.

Expenditure from the HIF funding has been paused at the request of Homes England, but MDDC has made a request for funds to facilitate limited further works on the site including continued reptile translocation and investigative works to determine the viability of alternative construction methodologies. Request has also been made for funds to support optioneering and feasibility work.

At the MDDC Cabinet meeting of 12 July, member for planning and economic regeneration Richard Chesterton said: “Clearly this remains a very important project for us and so officers will continue to work on this project in conjunction with key stakeholders, including Homes England, as quickly as possible in order to seek to identify opportunities to enable delivery of the scheme as soon as practically possible.”
Herned
Member
Posts: 1363
Joined: Thu Jul 20, 2017 09:15

Re: North Devon Link improvements

Post by Herned »

What are the odds on a roundabout being the outcome?
DavidBrown
Member
Posts: 8398
Joined: Sun May 29, 2005 00:35

Re: North Devon Link improvements

Post by DavidBrown »

Herned wrote: Sun Jul 17, 2022 19:32 What are the odds on a roundabout being the outcome?
Slim to nil, given that the slip roads on the westbound carriageway have already been built, it's just the remaining ones on the eastbound carriageway, and probably critically the bridge itself, that need doing. The tie-in to the Halberton-Tiverton road was well under way last time I passed.

Mind, if Alun Griffiths' handling of the works further up the road are anything to go by, even if the funding shortfall was sorted out the costs will have only risen again by the time they actually did any work. Apparently dormice have been causing major headaches for the widening, and the works for the new roundabout at South Molton are 6 months behind schedule, which given work started there 'only' 10 months ago is really quite an impressive feat. The work phase across the whole scheme has been an absolute shambles.
Herned
Member
Posts: 1363
Joined: Thu Jul 20, 2017 09:15

Re: North Devon Link improvements

Post by Herned »

DavidBrown wrote: Sun Jul 17, 2022 22:00
Herned wrote: Sun Jul 17, 2022 19:32 What are the odds on a roundabout being the outcome?
Slim to nil, given that the slip roads on the westbound carriageway have already been built, it's just the remaining ones on the eastbound carriageway, and probably critically the bridge itself, that need doing. The tie-in to the Halberton-Tiverton road was well under way last time I passed.
So just the really expensive part that they can no longer afford. Slim to nil looks a brave prediction to my mind
Hdeng16
Member
Posts: 539
Joined: Wed Nov 09, 2016 20:47

Re: North Devon Link improvements

Post by Hdeng16 »

DavidBrown wrote: Sun Jul 17, 2022 22:00
Herned wrote: Sun Jul 17, 2022 19:32 What are the odds on a roundabout being the outcome?
Slim to nil, given that the slip roads on the westbound carriageway have already been built, it's just the remaining ones on the eastbound carriageway, and probably critically the bridge itself, that need doing. The tie-in to the Halberton-Tiverton road was well under way last time I passed.

Mind, if Alun Griffiths' handling of the works further up the road are anything to go by, even if the funding shortfall was sorted out the costs will have only risen again by the time they actually did any work. Apparently dormice have been causing major headaches for the widening, and the works for the new roundabout at South Molton are 6 months behind schedule, which given work started there 'only' 10 months ago is really quite an impressive feat. The work phase across the whole scheme has been an absolute shambles.
For once I disagree. While it's unlikely it'll end up as a roundabout, worse things have happened elsewhere. The layout would be appalling for all concerned, but again, there are probably worse alignments and the slip roads are pretty poor already (the built section).

Slim maybe, nil absolutely not in this day and age. Anything's possible.
DavidBrown
Member
Posts: 8398
Joined: Sun May 29, 2005 00:35

Re: North Devon Link improvements

Post by DavidBrown »

Well over a year since the last update in this thread is about everything you need to know - progress has continued to be agonisingly slow. I've mentioned in another thread, officially Griffiths have said they're about 3 months behind schedule, with completion due "next Spring" (all works were meant to have been completed this coming November). But given the amount of work still to do, I honestly think there's still at least 12 months to go on the project. The most recent progress video is from July, and aside from fairly minor visual signs of progress, is roughly the state of play we have today. Only the Borners Bridge roundabout site at South Molton has any significant progress, with new kerbing starting to be laid for the permanent new layout. The new bridge at West Buckland still only consists of some reinforced mesh sticking out of the ground!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CIjmHqYsk5M

In Griffiths' infinite wisdom, they have now said today that they will be completely closing the road westbound 24/7 from 11th October for a whole month. This is for bridge waterproofing, surfacing and barrier replacement. I somewhat get the feeling that they are now activating all panic stations in order to get done in a reasonable amount of time, as all throughout consultation and the scheme to date, only overnight closures have ever been mentioned as required. I'm just a bit miffed that my journeys into Barnstaple will take a bit longer, but that's nothing compared to those living in Landkey and Swimbridge, who again have had zero prior notification until today.

Still, so long as it gets this absolute shambles of a scheme done and dusted much quicker. Can't wait to see the back of Griffiths, to be honest. :bang:
SteveA30
Member
Posts: 6018
Joined: Fri May 06, 2005 12:52
Location: Dorset

Re: North Devon Link improvements

Post by SteveA30 »

Griffiths are showing only night closures yet, the road is shown as closed now and there are orange lines on the old road. Looking to go next week on a good weather forecast day.

https://community.griffiths.co.uk/wp-co ... 0.23-2.pdf
SteveA30
Member
Posts: 6018
Joined: Fri May 06, 2005 12:52
Location: Dorset

Re: North Devon Link improvements

Post by SteveA30 »

Oct 27. Landkey battens down the hatches, as the A361 returns for a month, Oct 11 to Nov 11.

12.50 and a steady flow of westbound traffic. Something must have happened in the roadworks section, as within 3 or 4 minutes, the other side filled up as well.
13.02 solid in both directions.
13.09 Landkey under siege....

After about 30 minutes, 'normal' one way diversion traffic resumed.
A well planned diversion, with yellow cones throughout in Landkey and Swimbridge, keeping the route clear.
Attachments
12.50
12.50
13.02
13.02
13.09
13.09
Post Reply