Barnstaple downstream bridge opened

In an earlier post I had reported on the good progress made on some vital road schemes in Devon and Cornwall. Of these one has been completed and opened in the past week (Barnstaple's western bypass and downstream bridge) whilst shortly before that a substantial part of the A30 diversion in mid Cornwall around the north of Goss Moor came into operation.

The traffic jams in Barnstaple had been notorious for years: it is I suppose the major hub for roads in North Devon. Constant slow moving traffic really blights many of our old towns so I imagine the bypass is a great relief to the locals. And hopefully it might give Ilfracombe a bit of a boost by encouraging investors into that easily forgotten town now that travelling there will be less fraught. There has been a constantly updated website devoted to the construction of the bridge - good use of the internet methinks.

Regarding Goss Moor the section of new road opened avoids the low bridge carrying the Newquay branch line so no more news items of lorries getting jammed under it with all the ensuing problems. (Did HGV drivers ever get prosecuted for driving without due care and attention? They certainly should have as the low bridge is well signed). There is more work to do at the ends of this project so that it won't be fully open till later in the summer but at least the greater part of the contract is now complete.

Roadworks progress

There is good news on the progress of roadworks in Devon and Cornwall! First up is the removal of the Merrymeet roundabout on the Devon section of the A30 between Okehampton and Exeter. There is now an overbridge to allow connection with the side roads; the scheme was completed some months ahead of schedule much to the relief of everyone I should have thought because there have been very substantial delays during the construction.

Good news too in Cornwall - the new dual carriageway linking Indian Queens to the Bodmin Bypass looks as if it will be completed early and certainly in time for the bulk of next summer's traffic. This scheme will avoid the bottleneck of Iron Bridge where the Newquay to Par railway line crosses the existing A30, this bridge being substandard in height and having been damaged many times by high vehicles. The new route also goes around the north side of Goss Moor instead of bisecting it. Great efforts are being made to accommodate the wildlife here such as underpasses for badgers and otters and also special fences to stop these animals from trying to cross the road at road level. Another pleasing feature is the considerable use of waste material from the local china clay tips in the road construction.

Cornwall again. The long awaited construction of the Dobwalls bypass in the south east of the county began recently. That one should complete in 2008.

Now up to North Devon where the Barnstaple western bypass and downstream bridge appears to be progressing very well and should I think be open by next summer. I haven't been to Barnstaple recently but my memories even years ago was of apalling congestion. As at Bideford I think that the new bridge will be quite an aesthetic structure: I look forward to crossing it one day.

Although I am passionate about the environment I am strongly supportive of these particular schemes. The construction phase of course uses a lot of energy and natural resources but when complete has the potential to save road fuel, reduce journey times, reduce accidents, help business and last, but definitely not least, provide a much better environment for those living next to the existing main roads. I am supportive of Friends of the Earth regarding many issues (the excessive clout of the big supermarkets for instance) but they almost seem to object to road schemes out of principle and that I don't agree with.