Community News pages 50-55 A361 roadworks - one year, and one tortoise! The £63 million scheme to make safety improvements along the North Devon Link Road between Barnstaple and South Molton has now been running for 12 months. During that time most of the work has been focused on clearing land alongside the A361 so that construction work can start in earnest later this year, and putting in place measures to give the workforce safe access. The removal of trees and vegetation can only take place outside of the bird nesting season, so that has resumed this winter. In recent weeks the speed limit has been
Junction between South Molton & North Molton
modified so that two short sections have become 60mph again, but the majority of the roadworks will remain at 40mph to help protect the workers. The diversion at the North Molton junction (above) will also stay in place. As we reported last month, more than 3,000 motorists were caught speeding in the roadworks in just three weeks and police say they will be stepping up speed detection patrols. There have also been several bad crashes despite the reduction in speed limit.
Among the more unusual incidents, project foreman Matt Budd spotted a tortoise (above) in the middle of the A361 and pulled over to rescue it. Then came the difficult task of finding its owner as it was miles from any houses. Matt took the tortoise home to look after it, and thanks to the power of Facebook it was eventually reunited with its owner! Contractors Griffiths are also trialling the use of the new zero emission HVO Fuel (Green Diesel) in vehicles on the link road, as part of attempts to reduce their carbon footprint.
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