Barnstaple Western Bypass
Encyclopedia
The Barnstaple Western Bypass is a congestion-relief scheme designed to take road traffic away from the town centre of Barnstaple
, a market town in Devon
, South West England
. Construction of the new road started in the Spring of 2005 and it was opened on 23 May 2007.
.
has been created between the Newport and Roundswell roundabouts with a feeder lane from the Roundswell side to the new two lane carriageway. This allows easy access from the A39
Atlantic Highway to the A361
Braunton Road which generates much of Barnstaple's traffic.
Other plans include stream culverts, two pedestrian/cycleway underpasses, minor retaining walls and a 100 metre three span viaduct providing access for buses, cyclists and pedestrians to Barnstaple railway station
. Also built into the plans is the ability to reopen the Barnstaple
-Bideford
railway in the future should this become financially viable.
Ltd. , a major civil engineering group, is the main contractor.
campaigner and Green Party
candidate Anthony Bown claimed it would disturb large numbers of seabirds on the Taw and Torridge Estuary, along with the habitat of endangered otters.
They are also worried that the bypass will attract more vehicles and therefore further contribute to pollution, although it has also been argued that the bypass will reduce pollution by substantially reducing traffic jams and journey times in and around Barnstaple.
Some locals are also upset that the decoration chosen for one of the new roundabouts comprises Cornish stone, as the road is really a gateway to North Devon.
The event was organised to raise money for charity and to commemorate the completion of the Western Bypass and Downstream Bridge.
The ceremony took place on the Pottington side of the bridge at 11:00 and members of the public would have get their chance to walk over the new bridge from 11:30. A Fun Run started from Park School at 12:00.
At 14:30 A tug-of-war competition on the bridge itself took place.
A final grand parade was to start at 16:00 and at 17:30 an evening concert in St Peter's Church was to end the day.
Barnstaple
Barnstaple is a town and civil parish in the local government district of North Devon in the county of Devon, England, UK. It lies west southwest of Bristol, north of Plymouth and northwest of the county town of Exeter. The old spelling Barnstable is now obsolete.It is the main town of the...
, a market town in Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
, South West England
South West England
South West England is one of the regions of England defined by the Government of the United Kingdom for statistical and other purposes. It is the largest such region in area, covering and comprising Bristol, Gloucestershire, Somerset, Dorset, Wiltshire, Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. ...
. Construction of the new road started in the Spring of 2005 and it was opened on 23 May 2007.
Logistics
The project consisted of 1.7 miles (2.7km) of new road and a 409 metre (447 yard) long, five-span, Downstream Bridge across the River TawRiver Taw
The River Taw rises at Taw Head, a spring on the central northern flanks of Dartmoor. It reaches the Bristol Channel away on the north coast of Devon at a joint estuary mouth which it shares with the River Torridge.-Watercourse:...
.
Proposal of the project
The project consists of a single two lane carriageway, one roundabout and three traffic-signalled controlled junctions. A new roundaboutRoundabout
A roundabout is the name for a road junction in which traffic moves in one direction around a central island. The word dates from the early 20th century. Roundabouts are common in many countries around the world...
has been created between the Newport and Roundswell roundabouts with a feeder lane from the Roundswell side to the new two lane carriageway. This allows easy access from the A39
A39 road
The A39 is an A road in south west England. It runs south-west from Bath in Somerset through Wells, Glastonbury, Street and Bridgwater. It then follows the north coast of Somerset and Devon through Williton, Minehead, Porlock, Lynmouth, Barnstaple, Bideford, Stratton, Camelford, Wadebridge and St...
Atlantic Highway to the A361
A361 road
The A361 is a major road in England and at is the longest 3 digit A road in the UK. It runs south from Ilfracombe on the north Devon coast to Barnstaple, turning south-east to Tiverton then, after a break , north east from Taunton in Somerset through Street and Glastonbury, past Frome and then...
Braunton Road which generates much of Barnstaple's traffic.
Other plans include stream culverts, two pedestrian/cycleway underpasses, minor retaining walls and a 100 metre three span viaduct providing access for buses, cyclists and pedestrians to Barnstaple railway station
Barnstaple railway station
Barnstaple railway station is the terminus of a long branch line, known as the Tarka Line, north west of Exeter St Davids, in Devon.It was known as Barnstaple Junction from 1874 to 1970 as it was the junction between lines to , , and Exeter-History:...
. Also built into the plans is the ability to reopen the Barnstaple
Barnstaple
Barnstaple is a town and civil parish in the local government district of North Devon in the county of Devon, England, UK. It lies west southwest of Bristol, north of Plymouth and northwest of the county town of Exeter. The old spelling Barnstable is now obsolete.It is the main town of the...
-Bideford
Bideford
Bideford is a small port town on the estuary of the River Torridge in north Devon, south-west England. It is also the main town of the Torridge local government district.-History:...
railway in the future should this become financially viable.
Construction
As with any project of this scale, many companies are employed in the development. Edmund NuttallEdmund Nuttall
BAM Nuttall Limited is a construction and civil engineering company headquartered in Camberley, United Kingdom. It has been involved in a portfolio of road, rail, nuclear, and other major projects worldwide...
Ltd. , a major civil engineering group, is the main contractor.
Cost
It is estimated to cost £42 million. £38 million of this amount will come from the central government. Devon County Council will also contribute.Economic impact
An economic impact study was made and it was estimated that after 5 years the project would generate an extra £248 million in business turnover and would create 1,280 jobs.Critics
Critics would say that the Western Bypass would endanger wildlife and the environment. Friends of the EarthFriends of the Earth
Friends of the Earth International is an international network of environmental organizations in 76 countries.FOEI is assisted by a small secretariat which provides support for the network and its agreed major campaigns...
campaigner and Green Party
Green Party of England and Wales
The Green Party of England and Wales is a political party in England and Wales which follows the traditions of Green politics and maintains a strong commitment to social progressivism. It is the largest Green party in the United Kingdom, containing within it various regional divisions including...
candidate Anthony Bown claimed it would disturb large numbers of seabirds on the Taw and Torridge Estuary, along with the habitat of endangered otters.
They are also worried that the bypass will attract more vehicles and therefore further contribute to pollution, although it has also been argued that the bypass will reduce pollution by substantially reducing traffic jams and journey times in and around Barnstaple.
Some locals are also upset that the decoration chosen for one of the new roundabouts comprises Cornish stone, as the road is really a gateway to North Devon.
Time
The project started with a turf cutting ceremony in the first week of February 2005 and it was officially opened to the public at 13:30 on 23 May 2007.Opening Ceremony
Up to 20,000 people were expected to attend the Taw Bridge Family Fun Day.The event was organised to raise money for charity and to commemorate the completion of the Western Bypass and Downstream Bridge.
The ceremony took place on the Pottington side of the bridge at 11:00 and members of the public would have get their chance to walk over the new bridge from 11:30. A Fun Run started from Park School at 12:00.
At 14:30 A tug-of-war competition on the bridge itself took place.
A final grand parade was to start at 16:00 and at 17:30 an evening concert in St Peter's Church was to end the day.