Residents in Exmouth hit by the closure of a pavement linked to ongoing roadworks on the edge of the town can secure free taxis on a specified route.
Vast engineering works have been taking place on Exmouth’s Dinan Way, creating an 800-metre extension to the road so it meets the A376.
While the extension opened last month, work on the final phase of the scheme will mean disruption for drivers – and pedestrians – for the rest of the year.
A section of the A376 between Courtlands Cross and Courtlands Lane will close to through traffic while a roundabout at that location is completed.
These works have also rendered a pavement unusable.
The taxis are not being provided by Devon County Council, which is the highways authority, but by the main contractor on the Dinan Way extension scheme, which is Octavius Infrastructure Limited.
A spokesperson for Devon County Council said: “The taxis are solely provided for transportation from either side of the site extents on the A376 i.e. Ascona Courtland Garage and Saddlers Inn.
“The providing of a taxi service was a condition of the A376 footway closure permit being approved, to mitigate impact to local residents.”
The council said the contractor had not yet shared how many taxi journeys had been taken, and therefore how much had been spent providing the service.
It added that taxi services were “rarely provided” as a result of roadworks, but that they were considered “when there is no viable alternative accessible pedestrian route”.
Because of the pavement closure, Google Maps suggests pedestrians would need to walk for about 24 minutes through back roads to take what would ordinarily be a walk of around 5-10 minutes on Exmouth Road.
The closure between Courtlands Cross and Courtlands Lane will mean vehicles travelling to and from Exmouth town centre will be diverted along the newly completed Dinan Way extension and Hulham Road.
However, the diversion route will include a number of temporary one-way routes.
Councillor Dan Thomas (Liberal Democrat, Yealmpton and South Brent), the cabinet member for highways, recently stated the work should be completed by the end of the year.
“Work on the A376 Dinan Way extension scheme has taken longer than originally expected, and we understand the frustration this has caused for residents, businesses and road users,” he said.
“The original programme was to be completed around New Year 2026. However, a number of factors have affected progress since work started, including a very wet winter, which made it impossible to carry out vital earth works.
“Additional work has also had to be instructed during the course of the scheme, including drainage, landscaping and attenuation works, following issues that emerged on site.
“On a scheme of this scale, it is not unusual for changes to be needed as work progresses, particularly where previously unknown utilities are found or issues with ground conditions are identified.”
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