Secretary of State for Transport Patrick McLoughlin praised the works being carried out on the South Devon Link Road when he visited the site in May.
When complete in December 2015 the 5.5km dual carriageway will provide the long awaited Kingskerswell bypass- bypassing the existing A380 between Newton Abbot and Torbay.
The improved access to Torbay and South Devon is expected to bring lasting economic benefits, leading to the creation of nearly 8,000 jobs in South Devon and a further 3,600 in Torbay. It is predicted that the new road will remove 95% of traffic away from Kingskerswell, restoring and revitalising the village.
The £110 million cost of the development has been covered by £76.4 million from the Government, £33 million from Devon County Council and Torbay Council’s budgets and a further £500,000 from Teignbridge District Council.
Mr McLoughlin was joined by Anne Marie Morris, MP for Newton Abbot, where they viewed construction activity on the road.
The Minister was also accompanied by Gordon Oliver, Mayor of Torbay; Andrew Leadbetter, Cabinet Member for Economy at Devon County Council; Stuart Hughes, Cabinet member for Highways; Cllr Jeremy Christophers, Leader of Teignbridge District Council; Liz Waugh, interim Chief Executive of the Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership; and Project Director Jim Watson from Galliford Try, the contractors for the scheme.
Anne Marie Morris, MP for Newton Abbot said: “I am pleased the Secretary of State was able to visit Kingskerswell to see for himself the progress that has been made on building the South Devon Link Road. The Kingskerswell Bypass is a major infrastructure project that will stimulate our local economy, create thousands of jobs and reduce congestion.”
Andrew Leadbetter, Cabinet Member for Economy at Devon County Council, said: “The county council is committed to boosting Devon’s economy. This major project will bring lasting economic benefits to South Devon and we believe will help to create nearly 8,000 new jobs.
“I am particularly pleased that the Secretary of State has been able to see what we can accomplish working in partnership with other local authorities and organisations, like our neighbours Torbay Council.”
Gordon Oliver, Mayor of Torbay said: “The new link road is vital to the Bay’s economic regeneration plans. It will considerably improve access to Torbay and help us with our efforts to attract new investment and create thousands of new jobs in the Bay.”
Liz Waugh, Interim Chief Executive of the Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership said: “This is great example of how investment into better infrastructure can benefit not just the immediate communities and economy of South Devon but have far reaching impacts across the peninsula.”
Jim Watson, Project Director at Galliford Try added: “Work is progressing well and the project is on schedule. It’s fantastic that we had the opportunity to show the Minister the scheme and explain how construction will progress over the next two years.”
