PLANS for a £28.5 million scheme to better connect Newton Abbot to the A38 at Drumbridges – with wider roads, pedestrian and cycle paths – have been submitted this week.

The plan involves widening the A382 between Trago Mills roundabout and Whitehills Cross; a two-lane dual carriageway on the section of the road between Drumbridges and the Trago Mills roundabout; and support to a ‘park and change site’ at Forches Cross, where people can park and then travel into Newton Abbot by bus, cycle or car sharing.

Devon County Council’s scheme is expected to go before a council committee later this year.

A number of changes were made to the first designs after feedback from last year’s consultation. Subject to planning approval, construction work is scheduled to start in 2018.

County Cllr Eve Barisic said: ‘I’m very pleased the widening of the A382 plan is nearing fruition. Many residents have spoken with me about traffic problems into Newton Abbot and this should go some way to facilitate the increased volume of traffic caused by the growth of the town.

‘The inclusion of cycle routes and a park and change site should ease congestion further and benefit the environment.’

The scheme supports the housing and employment development included in Teignbridge Council’s adopted Local Plan, much of which will access the A382.

Plans also include a shared pedestrian and cycle path, connecting to new facilities at Drumbridges and other routes into Newton Abbot and Kingsteignton, as well as a cycle and pedestrian bridge at Forches Cross.

County Cllr Andrew Leadbetter said: ‘Creating additional capacity on the A382 will support the planned growth around this area, while also improving safety, journey times, resilience and reliability of the road.

‘It also provides sustainable transport options with the pedestrian and cycle links.’

The project will be carried out in three phases. The first phase will be with £1.4 million funding from developer contributions; £6.5 million from the Heart of the South West LEP’s Growth Deal; and £5.1 million from Community Infrastructure Levy.

It will include new roundabouts at Forches Cross and Whitehills Cross, as well as widening of the route in between. It will also include the Jetty Marsh stage two link, from the A382 to West Golds Way near the hospital, to reduce congestion at Churchills roundabout, along with associated pedestrian and cycle path improvements.

Phase two would widen the road from Trago roundabout to Forches Cross, with the footpath and cyclepath extending to Drumbridges, and a bridge across the A382 at Forches Cross.

The final phase would widen the road south of Drumbridges and upgrade the Trago Mills roundabout.

More information on the plans is available at www. devon.gov.uk/a382-corridor.htm.