Link Road delayed until September

Troubled Link Road project expected to be ‘finished’ nine months late

Local councils have been sent information stating that the main parts of the A361 Link Road improvement works will now be completed “in late September”, nine months late and the third new deadline set.

Transport cabinet member at Devon County Council, Councillor Andrea Davis wrote, “I know this will be very welcome news and I would be grateful if you would pass on my thanks for the public’s forbearance, support and tolerance.”

The £67 million project, designed to improve safety and reduce congestion, should have been finished in December last year. Despite being scaled back due to spiralling costs, it was first delayed until spring 2024, then summer and now at least September.

Landkey footbridge - dubbed a ‘bridge to nowhere’ it was largely finished in June. It has been built to serve a controversial proposed development of more than 800 new homes

A361 Portmore to Landkey Viaduct - “substantially completed” prior to the summer holidays Borners Bridge roundabout - work set to end “mid July”

A361 Landkey Viaduct to Filleigh Cutting - will be “completed over the summer” West Buckland Junction - the last section to be done, “in late September”

The new Landkey footbridge

Devon & Cornwall Police reported that average speed cameras will be in place this summer over an 8 mile stretch between Landkey and North Aller Cross.

Landscaping will continue over the winter.

“This is the biggest investment North Devon has had into the transport infrastructure for decades and I am very pleased to have been able to do something for my local community. Not quite all finished, but tree planting/landscaping won’t be as disruptive has it has been,” added Cllr Davis.

Above, the new West Buckland bridge is set to be finished in late September 2024 and pictured left, the so-called ‘bridge to knowhere’ has been built at Landacre - main photo by Peter Robinson