Defence Online

Devon County Council is to submit a £200m plan to the government for major improvements to the North Devon Link Road.The cabinet has agreed to submit the business case to ministers next week. It is hoped work could start in 2020 if the bid is successful.The scheme will include:Improvements to seven junctions – Borners Bridge, West Buckland, Landkey, Portmore, Rumsam, Westleigh, and Heywood Road roundaboutA new junction at Brynsworthy to the west of the current A39 Roundswell roundaboutAdditional overtaking lanes from Filleigh Estate to Portmore roundabout and from the new junction at Brynsworthy to WestleighProposals for a four-lane section between Landkey and Brynsworthy, to increase capacity where traffic flows are much higher. This would be two lanes in each direction without a central reservation, but the speed limit would have to be reduced to maximum of 50mphMore than 1,300 responses were received during the public consultation, with 95 per cent backing the idea of improvements to the Link Road. Further exploration of proposals for junction and link improvements was supported by 88 per cent, while 32 per cent wanted a dual carriageway to be investigated.