Reopening of main road delayed by a month

The main road out of Exeter will now be closed until 10 November

The main road out of Exeter will now be closed until 10 November - a month later than when it was initially scheduled to reopen.

The northbound section of Heavitree Road and the bus lane next to it will remain closed "due to the conditions of the road", Wales and West Utilities has said.

The company is carrying out work on the gas network in the area and has also closed another busy road on the other side of the city for a separate scheme.

The firm apologised for the delay, which has caused major traffic problems on other roads in the city, and said the work was essential "to keep the gas flowing safely".

Work is being carried out to upgrade the gas network on Heavitree Road in Exeter

Work began on the Heavitree Road project on 15 September with the road due to open on 7 October.

That reopening date was then revised to 13 October and when contacted by the BBC on Friday, Wales and West confirmed the closure would now continue until the expected completion of the whole project on 10 November.

Roxanne Whittaker, Wales and West Utilities programme controller, said: "Due to the conditions of the road, we are unable to complete the work safely without keeping the lane closure in place.

"We are very sorry for any inconvenience this may cause, and we are working as quickly and as safely as we can to complete this essential work."

On the other side of Exeter another busy road has been closed to traffic as work is carried out upgrading gas pipes.

A section of Buddle Lane is closed between the junctions of Dunsford Road and St Phillips Court and is scheduled to reopen on 3 November.

Wales and West said rolling two-way traffic lights would be in place on Buddle Lane to its junction with Redhills until Christmas with a further closure on the junction of Buddle Lane and Newman Road in January 2026.