Gary's views

Gary's weekly views

Each week an article by Gary has appeared in the Plympton Plymstock and Ivybridge News in South West Devon. The articles are published here

A38

I make no apologies for returning to the safety of the A38. I recognise that you can never design out tragic human error, but the recent disaster that has taken 3 local lives has only heightened my fear that we have a motorway speed race track running through the heart of our community, the Devon Expressway no less; but a road that falls well short of motorway standards of safety, especially the part between Marsh Mills and Ivybridge.
Why do I say that?

First, there are three “informal” junctions that are just plain dangerous at Lyneham, Cadleigh and on the Plymouth direction just after Smithaleigh. Turning into these junctions from a road where drivers are thundering along at seventy and getting out of them on tiny slip roads is dangerous. I know there may be inconvenience for some, but a major review is necessary, possibly resulting in closure. At the Cadleigh junction it is all too easy to turn right back along the wrong lane of the A38, especially on a dark rain-lashed night. The Lyneham junction is about to close for the power station works. Perhaps, it should never re-open.

Second, even some of the proper slip roads are sub-standard. My recent enquires reveal that there are regular occasions when motorists nearly drive the wrong way back up the slip road from the A38 into Lee Mill, and the access at the other end is dangerous because you cannot see the traffic on the dual carriage way until you are virtually upon it. Many times I have witnessed squealing of brakes and near misses at that spot. Both of these roads need an urgent review, not least in terms of better road signs.

Third, the Deep Lane junction, a catastrophe waiting to happen. Almost every day traffic queues on the Devon Expressway in both directions to get off at this junction. It is always a relief to see the car behind you brake rather than slam into the back of you. The Highway Agency is tinkering with it at the moment when it really needs a major overhaul. We cannot wait for Sherford to be completed for this to be done.So I have tabled Parliamentary Questions this week, alerting ministers and looking for answers. But it would help me enormously if you could let me have by post or e-mail your own observations and suggestions about how this stretch of road might be made safer.

posted by Nigel on Monday, July 02, 2007