A38 junction rethink could add extra lane to carriageway
A MINOR A38 junction east of Plymouth could be completely revamped as part of a £23million scheme to improve access for workers and residents.
The small Voss Farm junction, a mile east of Plympton, would get slip roads in all directions, members of the city's Cabinet will be told tomorrow.
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There would be an additional lane on the eastbound carriageway of the A38 from Deep Lane to Voss Farm.
Minor improvements around the nearby Deep Lane junction would include widening Sandy Road and having signals on the Ridgeway roundabout.
The westbound slip off the A38 would be lengthened as part of the scheme which Cabinet members are being asked to approve.
Plymouth City Council, Devon County Council and the Highways Agency have been working in partnership to develop alternative options for Deep Lane junction, which are needed to cope with traffic from Langage business park and the planned Sherford new town.
The partnership now has to put together a business case and apply for funding from the Government.
Around 15 options were investigated, with four being finally short-listed and put out for public consultation over the past six months.
Gary Streeter, the MP for South West Devon, said: "The Voss Farm junction opens up the Langage site better. It has got a lot going for it.
"The real problem is going to be getting the money to do all this work under today's circumstances, where capital budgets are being cut back to avoid Britain going bankrupt.
"This is a high priority for the Westcountry and I am going to be pushing for it, but there is no guarantee that the money is gong to be there.
"Without a significant upgrade, Sherford and Langage energy park won't really work, so it's crucial that we get this."
Mr Streeter said he did not know whether the junction work would improve Deep Lane's safety record.
"The problem is vehicles going towards Plymouth queuing on the A38 at Deep Lane," he said.
The preferred Deep Lane upgrade, called Option B(D) by the partnership, is estimated to cost £23million at 2009 prices.
7 Comments
by David, Saltash
Monday, June 07 2010, 6:50PM
“The A38 should be replaced with a motorway. Anyone saying it doesn't need to be clearly doesn't know the difference between a motorway and an A-Road. While they're at it link the bottom of the M5 with the bottom of the M3 with a motorway to create a new M4 corridor (M27) on the south coast. Also replace the rail line with a new high speed one that doesn't run along a sea wall in Dawlish. And back in the room....”
by Henry, Plymouth
Monday, June 07 2010, 5:41PM
“Sounds like a good idea, but with the new Con-Dem government it's unlikely to get the funding.
I totally agree with some of you that parts of the A38 desperately need resurfacing!”
by stuart, plymouth
Monday, June 07 2010, 4:53PM
“There is no need to make the A38 a motorway,it carries the traffic perfectly well as it is.It is the access to Plymouth that is a problem and i cant see much can be done with that.A complete resurfacing of the A38 might be appropriate as it is awfull in places.”
by Robert Ball, Glasgow
Monday, June 07 2010, 2:14PM
“Invest in a proper manner Central Government and IMPROVE the A38 to a Motorway. Or is it due to lack of Voters in the SW unlike the M4 Corridor, One wonders, They seem to have forgotten about South of Exeter. Messing around with extra Junctions etc, Getting away from the real point i feel. Look how overnight Plymouth and Cornwall would delight if they changed the A38 and started making it all into a Motorway there would be a lot more optimisium.”
by Peter, Ivybridge
Monday, June 07 2010, 1:45PM
“I'm fairly sure JR is right and that many of Plymouth's congestion problems are caused by there being far too many traffic lights, and we do need to look critically at ways of getting the traffic to flow more smoothly.
Dave is right too, to an extent, but I think it's a case of lack of training, or forgetfulness, rather than stupidity. Is it really right that someone can 'learn to drive' at 17 and carry on for 70+ years, with no additional training.
Think of the changes in roads and vehicles since I passed my L-test in 1964 - and I hope to have a good few more years of driving and biking left in me yet!
I've done 3 'advanced' driving courses since then, and I've learned a lot on each one of them. But they're not really 'advanced'; they're more to do with staying alive and making progress on a road system that wasn't designed for what we're now putting on it!”
by Dave, Devonport
Monday, June 07 2010, 9:53AM
“Roundabouts have to have traffic lights because a minority of drivers don't have the intelligence,or are too selfish, to use them properly.Many seem to struggle with the idea of dual lanes as well and cruise down the outside lane when the inside one is free.It's not a crime to be stupid,just as well we don't enough prisons to fit all the thick people in,but these muppets are a danger to others as well as an irritant.”
by JR, Barbican
Monday, June 07 2010, 8:14AM
“Why have roundabouts got to have traffic lights, roundabouts were made to ease the flow of traffic but in Plymouth we seem to have lights on most of them and all they do is slow up the traffic, everyone knows that when the lights are not working the traffic flows a lots better, it has been proved many times, but the powers to be will not have any of it, I think that the muppets that make all these rules don't drive.”