North Devon link road upgrade ‘on target’ We are now almost half way through the £63 million upgrade of the A361 between South Molton and Barnstaple, but the biggest question on many local people’s lips is ‘what’s going on’? Molton Monthly interviewed project manager Huw Owen to give you the answers. We are 14 months into this three year project, will you finish on time and on budget? “It is currently running to programme with completion anticipated in December 2023.” What have been the biggest challenges so far? “Running traffic management along the length of roadworks that maintains the free-flow of traffic as much as possible.” What is happening this summer and when will people see more actual construction? “As the weather improves, we will commence earthworks and drainage operations along the entire length of the site. So far we have completed vegetation clearance and constructed temporary haul routes.” Lots of trees and hedgerows have been removed, what is replacing them? “Before we started, Devon County Council began planting 20,000 indigenous trees and shrubs to mitigate those removed. Overall approximately 0.7 hectares of woodland will be lost, but 2 hectares planted. There will also be a loss of 1298 metres of hedges with approximately 2922 metres of new hedge planted.” Will there be average speed cameras on the finished road, and will it all be resurfaced? “Yes to both.”
The North & South Molton junction from the air - photo courtesy Griffiths Construction
26
Contact Molton Monthly: 07484 290500 email: info@moltonmonthly.co.uk
