Year-long roadworks 'chaos'

WORK STARTS ON ₤45M A386 UPGRADE THIS WEEK

- WILLIAM TELFORD

RESIDENTS fear "horrendous" traffic congestion will be created when work starts on a £45 million road upgrade in Plymouth this week.

Motorists are set to be affected by changes to the A386, with road closures and diversions in place for up to a year.

The first phase of the ambitious scheme, aiming to alleviate congestion at the notorious pinch-point between Woolwell roundabout and The George, will begin on September 11, but people living in Woolwell are already complaining that it will take them ages to reach their homes and traffic will back up, causing 'chaos' Residents are reporting that taxis and tradespeople will not visit the area while the work is ongoing.

A diversion means there will be no right turn from Tavistock Road into Woolwell Road, at Woolwell roundabout, except for emergency vehicles and buses. Traffic will be diverted to Belliver (Plessey) roundabout, where vehicles will have to turn around and drive back down Tavistock Road to get into Woolwell Road.

The speed limit on this stretch will also be slashed from 40mph to 30mph. Plymouth City Council said the diversion will ensure southbound traffic can flow freely without having to give way to right-turning traffic at the roundabout, and it will significantly reduce queues that would have been caused on the A386 back towards Dartmoor.