Drivers criticise Link Road project delays When Molton Monthly first revealed a photo of the new bridge being built at West Buckland (right) on its social media platforms, the story went ‘viral’ sparking 80,000 views and more than 110 mostly angry comments about the beleaguered £67 million Link Road improvements. We reported back in September last year that the project has been delayed from December 2023 to “spring 2024”. Before that, the work was scaled back to keep within budget due to spiralling costs. Several parts of the original scheme were scrapped. No reply has been received yet from contractors Griffiths asking for a new date for when the work will be finished. Writing on our Facebook page, John Parker said, “Spring of what year! Someone should be held responsible for this fiasco and total waste of taxpayers money on this project.” Several suggested average speed cameras between Tiverton and Barnstaple would have been better. Martyn Easterbrook said, “It’ll be fantastic when’s it’s finished, you’ll be able to leave the M5 and join the traffic jam in Barnstaple 5 minutes quicker!” Rachel Northcott added, “I think it will be more lethal than before, the A303 springs to mind. More overtaking lanes will cause chaos!” The sections of new road surface also came in for criticism. “The parts that have been re-laid now have pot holes in, where they have ‘joined’ two parts of the new road there are big ridges. By the time they finish the whole road will need resurfacing again,” said Matt Banagan.
26
Contact Molton Monthly: 07484 290500 email: info@moltonmonthly.co.uk
