Skip to main content

Construction to start on first phase of Woolwell to The George scheme

Date
Traffic at the Woolwell roundabout

Construction will get under way next month on the first phase of the Woolwell to The George transport improvement scheme.

Phase one will include a new signalised junction where Woolwell Crescent meets Tavistock Road, as well as walking and cycling improvements on Woolwell Road and a two-way cycle track on Tavistock Road (north of Woolwell Roundabout)

This will make it safer to travel by bike or on foot and will ease congestion, making public transport more reliable.

Work is due to start on Wednesday 11 September and is expected to take about a year. Minor changes to road markings will be made overnight on Monday 9 September, with the main traffic management put out overnight on Tuesday 10 September ready for work to start on Wednesday 11 September. 

Activities during this phase will include earthworks to prepare for the new junction at Woolwell Crescent, diverting drainage and utility connections and constructing the new signalised crossing and shared-use cycle paths on Woolwell Road.

To enable works to be carried out safely, the speed limit will be reduced temporarily from 40mph to 30mph between Belliver (Plessey) Roundabout and the George Junction.

Vehicles will not be able to travel westbound from the Towerfield Drive roundabout towards Tavistock Road (along Woolwell Road) and there will be no left turn out of Woolwell Drive. Traffic will instead be directed along Woolwell Crescent to join Tavistock Road. This closure is expected to be in place until Christmas.

There will also be a lane closure on the inbound side of Tavistock Road on the approach to Woolwell Crescent. The bus stop near Eco Way will be temporarily out of use (with the nearest stops at Roborough bypass and at Woolwell Roundabout).

Some footpaths will also be closed for safety reasons but alternative pedestrian routes will be provided.

To reduce queuing throughout construction, there will be no right turn from Tavistock Road into Woolwell Road (at Woolwell Roundabout), except for emergency vehicles and buses travelling northbound. Instead, there will be a short diversion north to Belliver Roundabout, where vehicles will be able to turn around to enter Woolwell Road from the southbound direction.

This diversion will ensure that southbound traffic can flow more freely without having to give way to right-turning traffic at the roundabout. It will significantly reduce queues that would have been caused on the A386 back towards Dartmoor.

Businesses will remain open as usual during these works.

It is very likely that journeys will be delayed through the construction area, particularly at peak times. Drivers are being advised to adjust travel times and plan their journeys ahead where possible.

Changes to these traffic management measures will be introduced as the works progress and regular updates will be provided.

Detailed design work on the second phase of the scheme, which will include the replacement of Woolwell Roundabout with a signalised junction, as well as the widening of Tavistock Road, is almost complete and we will provide updates as this progresses.

The Woolwell to The George scheme has been in the pipeline for many years. It will tackle one of Plymouth’s worst traffic bottlenecks and is a vital part of our programme to provide better links to and from the north of Plymouth as it grows.

In the coming years there are around 4,400 new homes planned in the north of the city – including 2,000 new homes at the Woolwell Urban Extension. In addition, with other developments, such as the new district shopping centre in Derriford, we will see an increased amount of traffic along this route.

The whole scheme will cost £45 million – which includes £24.9 million UK Government funding to support delivery of these vital improvements.

See our Woolwell to The George plans page for full details of these initial traffic measures, with maps.

For regular scheme updates and advance notifications of road layout changes email the main contractor Balfour Beatty at WTTGcomms@balfourbeatty.com.