TWO vital Devon road upgrades have been singled out for government funding prompting cheer from some of the county’s MPs.

Improvements to Junction 28 of the M5 at Cullompton have been confirmed in the government’s road funding announcement, as well as major structural renewals on the key A379 Bridge Road arterial route over the River Exe.

News of the J28 funding has been enthusiastically welcomed by local politicians, who view the improvements as essential if the forthcoming Culm Garden Village housing development is going to be viable.

The junction already gets routinely snarled up with traffic congestion, and the addition of around 5,000 homes would only exacerbate the problem without better road infrastructure.

The news comes as the Cullompton relief road has recently been confirmed, alongside news that Cullompton’s railway station will also be reopened.

Richard Foord, the Liberal Democrat MP for Honiton and Sidmouth, said there had been some nervousness locally about the prospect of the scheme moving ahead but some relief now it had been included in the recent update.

“The government was narrowing the options in terms of road infrastructure funding for schemes that it was weighing up, and a lot of projects got cut from prospective road funding, but Cullompton is still on the list,” he said.

In Exeter, the city’s A379 Bridge Road has also been identified as an area that will secure investment.

David Reed, the Conservative MP for Exmouth and Exeter East, called the announcement “fantastic news”.

“The Department for Transport has confirmed that the A379 Bridge Road scheme is one of just 16 schemes across the country selected to continue in the Large Local Major Funding process, out of 41 considered,” he said.

“This is a significant achievement.”

Steve Race, the Labour MP for the city, said he had met with ministers last year to push for the scheme, and welcomed its confirmation “pending a final business case”.

“As an important route in and out of Exeter, these improvements will help address congestion, improve connectivity and unlock housing and economic growth in our area,” he said.

“I’m really pleased about the government’s commitment to this project, which will deliver significant long-term benefits for our community and ensure Exeter continues to thrive.”

Mr Reed added he had been an ardent supporter of the improvement and had written directly to the minister for the future of roads backing Devon County Council’s bid to secure the funding needed.

“Bridge Road links Exmouth, Topsham, and the eastern fringes of Exeter with the city centre and the M5, and thousands of people rely on it every day,” Mr Reed added.

“As our area continues to grow, the pressure on this road is increasing, and without timely action we risk congestion, safety concerns, and lane closures that would cause major disruption.

“I’m really pleased that the case has been recognised at a national level. The next step will be developing the Outline Business Case, which will include a public consultation later this summer, so local people will have their say.”