A date has been confirmed for the long-term closure of the western section of Forder Valley Road, for works on the new Forder Valley Link Road.
The stretch between Novorossiysk Road and Fort Austin Avenue will be closed in both directions from 10am on Sunday 13 September, to enable construction of the new signalised junction, which will be larger and around five metres higher than the current one.
As we announced earlier in the year, the downhill side of the road will be closed for around 17 months but the uphill side will be reopened to cars between four and six months earlier, thanks to the efforts of the project team and contractors.
The existing traffic lights at the junction of Novorossiysk Road and Forder Valley Road will be removed during the closure but temporary push-button signals will be provided for pedestrians. (Traffic will only be stopped when people are waiting to cross.) Pedestrians and cyclists will still be able to use the closed section of the road, using signed diversions.
Traffic heading from the A38 towards Eggbuckland/Crownhill will be diverted via Manadon Roundabout, to join the A386 Tavistock Road and B3413 Crownhill Road. For road-users travelling in the opposite direction, the diversion route will be reversed.
People travelling between Eggbuckland/Crownhill and Novorossiysk Road should also follow the same diversion, via Forder Valley Road (South).
Residents, local businesses and the emergency services have been kept informed on the closure and diversion routes.
Drivers are reminded that the speed limit has been reduced from 40mph to 30mph throughout the works area, for everyone’s safety.
Temporary traffic signals are also being used intermittently on Forder Valley Road (South), near the service station, between now and December. These are only used when needed and only during off-peak times (Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 3.30pm), to allow underground investigations and subsequent works to support and strengthen the embankment.
Councillor Mark Coker, Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning and Infrastructure said: “We have to close this section of Forder Valley Road because we are basically rebuilding it, along with a brand new junction, five metres higher. We also need to reroute all the utility channels and cabling that run along it.
“We have done all we can to minimise the duration of this closure – while keeping the public and the workforce safe. When the scheme is finished there will be a new link between the A38 and Derriford, taking pressure off Manadon Roundabout and the A386 Tavistock Road and improving traffic flow for everyone.
“We’d like to thank everyone for bearing with us while these major works are carried out.”
The Forder Valley Link Road will create a much-needed alternative link between the A38 and the north of the city. This will help reduce journey times to and from key destinations such as Derriford Hospital, the University of St Mark and St John and Plymouth Science Park and improve bus service reliability.
It forms part of a wider package of measures that are key to unlocking growth in the north of Plymouth, where over 4,000 new homes are planned over the next 15 years. Others have included the Derriford Transport Scheme, Derriford Hospital Interchange and Marjon Link Road.
For regular scheme updates email fvlrcomms@balfourbeatty.com with your name and contact details.