Parts of major road set to reopen after upgrades

Upgrade work has been taking place on the A361 North Devon Link Road

Several stretches of a busy Devon road are set to reopen after upgrade work was completed.

Devon County Council said parts of the A361 North Devon Link Road would reopen to traffic on Monday between Barnstaple's Portmore roundabout and Yarnacott.

It said the sections between the Portmore and Landkey roundabouts along with changes to a new pedestrian and cycling bridge would be open.

The council added other sections of the road, which has been undergoing works as part of an improvement project between Barnstaple and South Molton since February 2021, would reopen in stages over the coming weeks.

The work between Portmore and Landkey involved resurfacing the road and setting up a central hatched area to discourage overtaking, the council said.

The authority added the additional work at Landkey has replaced a T-junction and the addition of a fourth exit at the roundabout along with the new bridge top help access the planned Westacott development.

The council said the project was due to be completed at the end of 2023, but delays caused by the Coronavirus pandemic, the war in Ukraine and rising interest rates having an impact on supply chains had pushed the finish time back.

"After all new sections of the road have opened to traffic, landscaping and some minor work will continue," a council spokesperson added.