by Alan Quick

DEVON County Council has confirmed that work is progressing well on a major stabilisation scheme on the A377 at Chapel Downs on the outskirts of Crediton.

Essential repairs and reconstruction work started in mid January on a 30-metre stretch, between Queen Elizabeth Drive and Higher Road, where the edge of the road is cracking due to an unstable embankment.

The scheme is on schedule to be completed by February 12.

Highway drainage is being replaced and a retaining wall is being constructed. The road will also be resurfaced.

Councillor Stuart Hughes, Devon County Council Cabinet Member for Highway Management, said: “The work is progressing as planned and every effort is being made to re-open the road as soon as possible, hopefully ahead of schedule.

Councillor Nick Way, County Councillor for Crediton, told the “Crediton Courier”: “Although this is very necessary work that has to be done, any closure of this length causes great disruption and inconvenience for those who use this important road and for all those affected by the diverted traffic on surrounding local roads.

“The sooner it can be reopened the better and it is good news the work is progressing well.”

An official diversion route is signed via Copplestone, Whiddon Down, A30 to Exeter, Cowley Bridge to Crediton.

However, the County Council expected some increase in traffic on local roads and to ease traffic flow in and around Crediton a temporary 30mph is in place on Higher Road and lanes to the south of the closure, along with a temporary one way system between Quarry Foot Cross and Raddon Down Cross, near Knowle.

Macplant Construction is carrying out the work.

There have been some complaints with regard to the speed of vehicles using Higher Road and a number of potholes have developed along that road and in George Hill.

Stagecoach has been using George Hill as an alternative route for buses and two stops in Western Road not being used while the road works are taking place.

Some traffic issues have occurred at Forches Cross, Jockey Hill and the Jockey Hill roundabout.

Road users are advised that they should drive according to conditions and obey road restrictions, taking extra caution at busy times.