Funding agreed to widen the M5
THE M5 is to be widened at junction 30 at Exeter as part of road improvements that will unlock major new business and housing developments near the city.
Devon County Council has secured millions of pounds from the Government for work that will see the motorway widened to four lanes around junction 30 and the approaches to junctions also widened.
And a new bridge will be built to allow pedestrians and cyclists to cross the motorway at nearby junction 29.
The access improvements are pivotal to the planned multi-million pound Science Park, Skypark and Cranbrook developments.
News of the funding has been welcomed by business leaders, who believe the developments will bring an economic boost to the city. But green groups and transport campaigners argue the measures will lead to an increase in traffic.
Derek Phillips, chairman of Exeter Chamber of Commerce, said: “We’re obviously delighted and very pleased that this money has been allocated.
“We’ve been lobbying for it, along with the local authorities, for some time. It’s great news. It will allow absolutely essential improvements to be carried out and for the Science Park, Skypark and Cranbrook developments to go ahead.
“It’s inevitable there will be some disruption while work is carried out, but the long-term gain will be so fantastic that people will appreciate it. It’s a tremendous boost for the city.”
Tim Jones, chairman of Devon & Cornwall Business Council, said: “I’m completely delighted to have this sort of news. These schemes are key investments and will benefit Exeter and the whole of Devon. The Skypark in particular will be an important initiative and will drive the economy forward. The availability of funding for the roads is essential to its success.” he added: “We need to create some wealth, especially in Exeter, which has been badly hit by the economic downturn.”
The plans for junction 30 also include providing signalised crossing facilities at the junction for cyclists and pedestrians. This will be part of a project to provide cycle links to Clyst St Mary and Westpoint.
This scheme will cost £1.7m, made up of £1.5m from the Government, developer contributions and money set aside by the county council in the Local Transport Plan. The proposed completion date is summer 2010.
At junction 29, Devon County Council hopes to build a pedestrian and cycle bridge, following the line of Langaton Lane.
In addition, the council is proposing to improve the existing Tithebarn Lane bridge across the M5 to allow it to be used by public transport. The Government has awarded this project £5.5m with further contributions to come from developers and the county council, again from its Local Transport Plan budget. The anticipated completion date for this project has not yet been stated.
In a council report, executive member for environment Margaret Rogers said: “This is intended to link up with the planned public transport route through the Science Park. Public consultation was recently held on the park’s proposals in preparation for submission of a planning application within the next couple of months.
“Now that the funding has been confirmed for the schemes, it is necessary to conduct a public consultation on the specific proposals, at an early date.”
But the plans have caused concern among the city’s environmentalists, who say the result will be more cars and more CO2 emissions. Maurice Spurway, coordinator of Exeter Friends of the Earth, said: “There is going to be a huge element of road building near Junction 29. I’ve seen the plans and they are huge. This is to facilitate, primarily, the Science Park. which is being built close to Junction 29.
“Ostensibly it will move us towards having more traffic at a time we should be thinking of cutting traffic by at least 50 per cent if we are serious about climate change.
“We’re allowing an increase in traffic because we have located a science park on the edge of a city, with limited transport links. Possibly they can go to the park by train or by cycling, but the plans also show how many car parking spaces will be provided.”
Martyn Goss, chairman of the Campaign for Better Transport, said money should be invested into alternative transportation.
He said: “This is a good example of public money being spent on a road scheme that will benefit few people and lead to future environmental problems in the longer term.”
14 Comments
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by dg, rockbeare
Tuesday, April 21 2009, 5:52PM
“There seemns to have been roadworks at J30 for the last 5 years. No sooner than one scheme for improving it finshes thean another one is announced.
Besides which, ?Skypark and Cranbrook are near J29. Sureley this is the junction that needs to be sorted out, especially the kamikaze lane swapping that takes place by drivers from Exeter trying to get onto the old A30”
by Peter Steer, Exeter
Tuesday, April 21 2009, 4:04PM
“The road designers have to practice somewhere. They design a road layout........build it......alter it........then alter it again......then leave it & start afreash somewhere else. Keeps all the road cones in use because if they probably have nowhere big enough to store them all.”
by Andrew Colman, Exmouth
Tuesday, April 21 2009, 10:57AM
“I am opposed to this project to widen the M5 for two reasons
(1) It will stimulate oil demand and lead to higher oil prices
(2) The Government is short of money and there are many better things for the government to spend its limited resources.
I assume a purpose of this project is to try and help UK get out of recession, however this recession was triggered by a large increase in the price of oil which forced up prices and interest rates around the world.
The oil price rise was in turn due to by there being insufficient oil to meet the demands of the growing world ecoomy, the beginning of what is called "Peak oil".
Building more roads will stimulate demand for oil. Therefore when the recession ends, oil prices will rocket to even higher than last year causing another even worse recession in a few years.
If the government and the country as a whole want to avoid a repeat of what has happened in the last 2 years,
the government needs to invest solely in green energy which reduces demand for oil, For example wind farms, solar panels, hydrogen cells and speeding up development of Nuclear Fusion.”
by John, Exeter
Tuesday, April 21 2009, 9:10AM
“I now realise (having read your hard copy story) that Hollow Lane is meant for the pedestrian/cycle route. (actually this becomes Gypsy Lane before it gets to the motorway)
This would take it across at the existing high level to join Blackhorse Lane to come out near Clyst Honiton.
Another puzzle I still have though, is that strange extra half lane which has been left unfinished for years on the Junction 30 roundabout: how is that going to fit into the changes?”
by Dodgem, Exminster
Monday, April 20 2009, 9:08PM
“Hopefully before they finish ithe roundabout works they can signpost it properly. Not a day goes by where I don't get up there by someone in the wrong lane. It's not unusual to see people go from the inside M5 south junction across all the traffic to the services lane. It needs sorting out before the influx of tourists in the summer”