Major road network schemes

Major Road Network (MRN) schemes are road projects valued at £20–£50 million, delivered by local authorities within Peninsula Transport with funding support from the Department for Transport (DfT).

For the period 2020–2024, Peninsula Transport has identified five priority schemes for funding:

  • A382 Drumbridges to Newton Abbot

  • A374/A386/A3064 Plymouth MRN Phase 1

  • A39 Atlantic Highway (Camelford Bypass)

  • A39/A361 Roundswell to Bishop’s Tawton (North Devon Link Road Phase 2)

  • A379 Exeter Outer Ring Road

  • Plymouth’s A38 MRN scheme

Progress Update

The A374/A386/A3064 Plymouth MRN Phase 1 has been approved to progress from the Strategic Outline Business Case stage to the development of a full Outline Business Case.

A382 Drumbridges to Newton Abbot

The A382 is a vital link between Newton Abbot, the A38, and Heathfield Industrial Estate. However, the route is currently sub-standard, with a high collision rate and no pedestrian or cycle facilities. These issues are restricting planned development in the Newton Abbot growth area.

Proposed Improvements

The scheme will deliver a package of improvements, including:

  • Widening to dual carriageway (Trago Roundabout to Drumbridges)

  • Realignment and widening to 10m (Trago Roundabout to Forches Cross)

  • Junction upgrades at Trago, Forches Cross, and Whitehill Cross

  • Construction of Jetty Marsh II

  • New pedestrian and cycle path from Drumbridges to Forches Cross, including Jetty Marsh II

  • Exeter Road widening to 6m, with a shared pedestrian/cycle path

Progress

  • May 2021 – The Outline Business Case was approved by the Department for Transport

  • 2023 – Full Business Case expected to be submitted

  • 2024 – Anticipated start of construction

A374/A386/A3064 Plymouth MRN Phase 1

The Plymouth MRN Phase 1 Scheme will deliver targeted improvements at several key junctions, including:

  • A38 / Marsh Mills Junction

  • Weston Mill Junction

  • Cattedown Roundabout

  • Camels Head Junction

These works will increase road capacity, reduce delays, and improve traffic flow. Localised road widening will remove pinch-points, while highway asset reconstruction and upgrades for pedestrians and cyclists will also be delivered.

Additional Benefits

  • Flood resilience – addressing known flooding hotspots through the Environment Agency’s Arnolds Point flood defence works

  • Enhanced MRN functionality – removal of a disused rail bridge currently restricting the route, enabling use as an Abnormal Load Route and as a diversion route for SRN traffic on the A38

A39 Atlantic Highway (Camelford Bypass)

The A39 is the main route connecting north Cornwall to west Devon. At Camelford, traffic congestion causes delays, community severance, and environmental impacts. The town is designated as an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA), with high volumes of HGV and agricultural vehicles passing through. Poor connectivity also restricts economic growth in Camelford and the surrounding area, with the current route identified in the Local Plan as a key constraint.

The Scheme

A single carriageway bypass, designed for speeds up to 85 kph, will provide capacity for up to 13,000 vehicles per day — enough to accommodate current flows, seasonal peaks, and forecast growth to 2030. The route has existing planning permission, the support of Camelford Town Council, and is safeguarded by Cornwall Council.

Benefits

The bypass will deliver:

  • More reliable journey times on the A39 and reduced congestion in Camelford

  • Improved air quality in the Camelford AQMA

  • Better access to key tourism destinations including Boscastle and Tintagel

Progress

In March 2020, funding was announced in the Budget to support further development of the scheme.

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A39/A361 Roundswell to Bishop's Tawton (North Devon link road phase 2)

The North Devon Link Road (NDLR) is the main connection between northern Devon, north Cornwall, and the rest of the country. Around Barnstaple, the route narrows to a single carriageway, yet carries 28,000 vehicles a day, creating severe congestion and long queues at peak times. With 17,000 new homes and 85 hectares of employment land planned for delivery in the next decade, pressure on the route will only increase.

Phase 1 Improvements

Approved for Large Local Majors funding in 2018, Phase 1 will deliver:

  • Junction upgrades between South Molton and Bideford

  • Additional overtaking sections between South Molton and Barnstaple

These upgrades will ease traffic flow, but the full benefits cannot be realised unless the connecting road sections are also improved to match the new junction capacity.

Phase 2 Plans

Phase 2 proposes widening the NDLR between Roundswell Roundabout and Bishop’s Tawton Roundabout (a 2.4 km stretch) to two lanes in each direction. Key features include:

  • A new bridge over the railway branch line and River Taw

  • A four-lane single carriageway design (rather than a full dual carriageway, due to nearby housing on both sides)

  • A solid white line to separate opposing traffic flows and hard-standing kerbs on either side

  • A reduced 50 mph speed limit, with average speed cameras installed for enforcement

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A379 Exeter outer ring road

The A379 is a vital arterial route in Exeter, providing one of only four road crossings over the River Exe.

Carrying around 33,000 vehicles per day, the A379 links two major growth areas:

  • South West Exeter – 2,500 homes and 5 hectares of employment land

  • Newcourt – 3,500 homes and 8 hectares of employment land

The route also provides critical resilience to the Strategic Road Network (SRN), acting as a key diversionary route in the event of an M5 closure.

The Challenge

Several bridges along the A379 crossing the River Exe require renewal within the next 10 years. Current funding sources are insufficient to cover these works. If renewal is not delivered, bridge failure would cause severe disruption to daily users and seriously impact Exeter’s accessibility.

The Scheme

The proposed scheme will:

  • Deliver structural renewals to safeguard the bridges and protect Exeter’s connectivity

  • Enable the route to accommodate abnormal loads, strengthening its role as a diversion route for the M5