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Tuesday 12 March 2019

Exeter is now the slowest city in the UK

Exeter continues to expand:
Futures Forum: The Greater Exeter Strategic Plan and 57,000 new houses

Which is just making the traffic even worse:
Futures Forum: Air pollution, traffic congestion and development >>> Building a new shopping centre to the west of Exeter "would cause traffic chaos"

And this has been getting worse for some time now:
Futures Forum: Gridlocked Devon >>> 'Devon Live' to debate "some of the major travel problems facing the county." >>> and to investigate "the attitude of local authorities to sustainable travel and highlight some of Devon's pollution hotspots"

Besides, it's creating a stink:
Futures Forum: Air pollution: urgent action needed

We could actually look at doing something about it:
Futures Forum: Improving Exeter's air quality and public transport through congestion-charging
Futures Forum: "What would a zero carbon city look like?" > Transition Exeter: talk and discussion: Friday 1st March

Because, it's quicker to walk: 

Exeter roadworks helps the country's slowest moving city live up to its reputation

“It took the A bus an hour to get from Ide Lane in Alphington to the High Street – a journey which should take 18 minutes"


Anita Merritt
12:14, 12 MAR 2019

Exeter is living up to its name of being named the slowest moving city in the country following major roadworks which are affecting a vital gateway in and out of the city centre.

Exe Bridges roundabout is currently undergoing essential repairs and maintenance during March and April. Most of the work, which is expected to take around two months, is being carried out from 6.30pm to 7am, although Devon County Council have waned some daytime work will be needed on occasions.

The roadworks began on the evening of March 4, and since then heavy congestion has been reported in the area particularly between 7pm to 8pm, and has been having a knock-on effect on other roads in the city. Last weekend lengthy queues were reported after Devon County Council announced that due to roadworks, a number of roads would be closed from 6am on Saturday until 7am on Monday morning, with signed diversions in place.

It is impacting on journeys made by car as well as bus. On March 9, Stagecoach announced on Twitter that due to the roadworks its service 6 and 6a was suffering delays of up to 90 minutes, and has warned passengers to allow extra time for their jounreys.


The Exe Bridge in Exeter (Image: Google)

An Exeter resident tweeted: “Exe Bridges roadworks is bringing Exeter to a standstill. I’m on the A bus from Alphington which is being overtaken by people on foot. I appreciate the issues, but it’s hard to believe it had to be this bad.” He added: “It took the A bus an hour to get from Ide Lane in Alphington to the High Street – a journey which should take 18 minutes."

Local businesses, such as Tenpin Exeter have urged customers to allow extra travel time to make sure they get to the venue in time for their booking.

Exeter has been named as the slowest city in the country in a report published by Sport England in January. In its active lifestyle pilot for Exeter and Cranbrook it states

It states: "Exeter and Cranbrook is an area of rapid population growth with 22,000 new homes and 12,000 new jobs forecast by 2026. Despite this growth there are some big strategic challenges, namely traffic congestion, with Exeter being the slowest moving city in the country averaging just 4.6mph during rush hour."

Devon County Council has warned the work is weather sensitive and the duration of the scheme may be subject to change. Assurances have been made that at no point will the whole roundabout be closed.

A spokesperson for Devon County Council said: “We are hoping to only close a maximum of two lanes at a time within the roundabout, and roundabout entries and exits closure with diversion routes will be during night-times. Due to the safety areas required to ensure the safety of site staff, it may be necessary to suspend some movements, ie. no left turn or right turn, at specific junctions. Where this is necessary, local diversions will be put in place.”

Explaining the reasons behind the roadworks, the spokesperson said: “Resurfacing work is needed as the current condition of the road surface is deteriorating. There are signs of cracking in multiple locations, which allows water to enter the surface and leads to the formation of potholes.

In addition to the resurfacing work, we will also be re-waterproofing the north and south bridge beneath the carriageway to ensure long-term performance of the structure. We will also be undertaking some minor highway work to replace defective manhole covers, gully gratings and kerbs.


Exeter roadworks helps the country's slowest moving city live up to its reputation - Devon Live
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