Torbay roadworks delayed for more roadworks

"There's never a good time for roadworks"

Major roadworks in Torbay have been delayed so they don’t overlap with one which is already causing long delays for drivers and long walks for pedestrians.

Resurfacing work is underway on Brixham Road – the bay’s ring road – where it meets Roselands Drive and Wilkins Drive in Paignton. The work started on Monday and is leading to lengthy tailbacks at busy times. Pedestrians are being told they need to make a half-mile detour to find somewhere safe to cross.

But the good news for drivers is that a major scheme at nearby Long Road – part of the Inglewood housing project – has been put back three weeks until the Brixham Road work is complete.

The current work, which is near the Aldi supermarket, is being carried out on behalf of housing developers to remedy issues with the original surfacing. It is being done by specialist contractors at no cost to Torbay Council.

A pedestrian crossing has been closed for safety reasons whilst the work is done, and pedestrians are being advised to walk a quarter of a mile down to the Sainsbury’s junction to cross on an island or use a footbridge there.

A council spokesman said: “We are working with the contractor to ensure the resurfacing is completed and the pedestrian crossing is reopened as soon as possible.

“We expect that the works at the junction will be finished in the allocated three-week period, weather permitting.”

Meanwhile, work where the ring road joins Long Road and Goodrington Road at White Rock will start later than originally planned.

That scheme is part of a programme to widen junctions and improve traffic flow needed for the Inglewood development. It had originally been scheduled to start last Monday but will now begin on Monday 16 October.

Meanwhile, at the Windy Corner junction, a five-week programme of works to be carried out by Openreach is due to start as scheduled on Monday 2 October.

This project is also connected to Inglewood and is to rebuild and lower a communications equipment chamber in the road.

The next phase of major works to add a new southbound lane at Windy Corner are due to take place in mid-September next year.

The spokesman added: “We know there is never a good time for roadworks, and we have worked with everyone involved to minimise disruption while the necessary improvement works are carried out.”