Persimmon Homes, who are carrying out works to connect the top of the new Forder Valley Link Road with their Palmerston Heights development, have confirmed that they now expect to finish by February.
Construction of the link road was completed in September but it cannot open until Persimmon Homes have carried out widening works where it joins Pintail Way, to provide two northbound lanes and a southbound lane.
The roundabout at the top of Pintail Way is also being upgraded to a signalised junction with pedestrian crossings and the eastbound side of the connecting section with William Prance Road will be widened to create a second lane.
Councillor Jonathan Drean, Cabinet Member for Transport, said: “Persimmon Homes had hoped to complete these vital works by October but they have encountered a number of challenges. We know people will be disappointed by this setback but we cannot open the new road safely until their works have been delivered.
“We have been in regular contact with Persimmon Homes to ensure they are progressing the works as quickly as possible, while also meeting the conditions of their planning permission. We look forward to being able to open the new road early next year, providing a much-needed and long-awaited link between the A38 and Derriford.”
A spokesperson for Persimmon Homes said: “Throughout this scheme we’ve worked closely with Plymouth City Council, and we will continue to do so as we work to complete the road by February.
“We recognise the importance of the new Forder Valley Link Road to the local community, and while we have encountered supply chain issues that have caused delay to the signalised crossings and northern junction, we are determined to do all we can to complete it by February.”
You can view Persimmon Homes’ scheme design on our planning portal (reference number 17/01339/FUL).
Between now and early spring we will also be advertising a Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) to make the current closure of Blunts Lane a permanent arrangement.
The road has been temporarily closed to through traffic during construction and during this time local residents have asked us to keep the restriction in place permanently. We recently consulted the residents, business and allotment holders nearby and there was strong support for this option, with 92 per cent of respondents supporting a permanent closure (while maintaining access to properties and land accessed directly from the lane).