Link Road ‘misery’ continues with delay until summer 2024 Molton Monthly broke the news on its social media platforms on February 5th that the completion of the troubled North Devon Link Road improvement scheme is being delayed again, and is now at least six months behind schedule. Large parts of the roadworks have already been scrapped to keep within the £67 million budget. It should have been finished last December after three years of disruption on the A361. It’s the second time a new deadline has been set, with the contractors Griffiths now saying it won’t be done by spring and instead saying “summer 2024” - subject to the weather. A spokesman for Devon County Council said, “Work on the A361 North Devon Link Road upgrade is accelerating as the project nears its final stages. With the scheme due to be completed in the summer, a big push is being made to complete key remaining elements before the Easter holidays in order to minimise disruption for local residents and businesses.” Motorists once again reacted angrily to the news of a further delay, with many questioning whether it will be finished this year and claiming the so-called improvements could make the busy road more dangerous. Drivers are being warned to expect further delays at “peak times”. “Work is specialised, weather dependant and intricate, but every effort will be made to complete it as quickly as possible to fully Work has been progressing slowly on the re-open the A361,” say the contractors. new bridge at the West Buckland junction
Road closures and traffic lights planned From February 19th to March 22nd the North Devon Link Road will be closed overnight from 8pm to 6am on weekday evenings Monday to Friday, between North Aller roundabout and Landkey roundabout. From February 20th to March 21st two sets of temporary traffic lights will be in place from 6am to 8pm on the same stretch of the A361. At weekends the traffic lights will be in operation 24 hours a day. Abnormal loads will be diverted to reduce congestion.
08
Contact Molton Monthly: 07484 290500 email: info@moltonmonthly.co.uk
