Kingskerswell Bypass - ongoing discussions and updates (merged topic)

[whole diary]

[devon_metro]

Public Transport would also benefit from the road though. Buses have changed in the are a lot recently.

Before May on the Newton Road
15 Minutes 12 service to Brixham
15 minutes 12A service to Brixham/St Mawes Dr via South Devon College
Bus every 7.5 mins

Post May
10 minutes 12 service to Brixham

Cut in frequency and also loss of link to large college and also cut in frequency on my 12A/C route which now goes to a far less useful Teignmouth/St Marychurch

Why? Because the buses get so delayed along the Newton Road that buses across the whole of Torbay were late, overcrowded and slow. The rail line would be more useful perhaps if it stopped at Kingskerswell but it is not as convenient as the car or bus. The bypass is also vital for Torbays crumbling economy.

[devonian]

Does anyone know where they would site the Kingskerswell station should it ever reopen (which it should!)?

I walked past the old site the other day and whilst the platforms are there, I believe the building and access have gone. Very easy to add access in though.

A station here would mean people from KK also wouldn't have to drive to Newton Abbot/Torquay/Exeter etc should they choose to train it.

[Super Guard]

Doesnt exactly inspire confidence regarding the government's priorities/commitment to public transport, does it?

More roads = more cars = more car tax + speeding fines + duty/vat from petrol = More financial benefit to Government than getting more people on trains.

(Mr. Bradshaw doesn't mind travelling on XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) 1st Class though  ).

[Lee]

Alternative proposals to the Kingskerswell bypass, including a tunnel under the Penn Inn roundabout and a reopened Kingskerswell railway station, have been dismissed as "a load of old cobblers" by Torbay Mayor Nick Bye (link below.)
http://www.thisisdevon.co.uk/news/Alternative-bypass-load-cobblers/article-415192-detail/article.html

[chopper1944]

Trainbuff is correct. I live in Kingskerswell and the proposed bypass(a misnomer as it bypasses nothing but goes through Kingskerswell) is a waste of money. It is amazing how both Torbay and Devon County Council can find money when they are cutting back both services and staff. The proposed ^100 million plus cost would have been better spent on improving rail sevices throughout Devon

[devon_metro]

I can't wait for the bypass. Whilst I sympathise with Kingkerswell residents, i'm sure a large proportion of Torbay will appreciate not having to sit on that bloody road in the swealtering summer heat when the region is overrun with grockels.

[trainbuff]

I can't wait for the bypass. Whilst I sympathise with Kingkerswell residents, i'm sure a large proportion of Torbay will appreciate not having to sit on that bloody road in the swealtering summer heat when the region is overrun with grockels.

I can understand what you mean. however if the experience of the A386 is anything to go by which is one of the reasons that the reopening proposal has such a good business case, is that dualling sections of the road merely moves the congestion or gives extra queueing space! So i guess when all the Grockles are down they will just be queueing somewhere else nearer to Torbay!

I do feel that this has got us somewhere off thread but it did need to be mentioned. Imagine what ^100 million could do for the railways locally. Extra vehicles over and above the massive 2 extra we have coming! Also additional rail mileage. I would trade the 3 miles of road for that, wouldn't you Devon Metro?

[woody]

The point about simply moving the bottleneck further down the A380 is a very valid one.I remember when the dual A30 ended at Bodmin before the onward Goss Moor section was finally dualled.Miles of traffic would tail back down the A30 at busy times because the then single lane A30 beyond Bodmin could not cope.I fear that the same is going to happen on the newly dualled Kingsteignton by-pass at the Torquay end turning it into another huge car park at busy times.It not going to do local rail use any favours either.If public money is really that tight better the money was used towards the cost to say sling up a few more wires beyond Bristol down to Exeter or Plymouth.In the South West it seems the coalition government seems to be reverting to the 1980s formula when spending on roads was regarded at investment but rail spending regarded as subsidy.Sad really but that mentality is why we in Devon and Cornwall have the the oldest and slowest main line railway in England.

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

Demolition work has started to make way for the Kingskerswell bypass in South Devon.

Local people have campaigned for a bypass for more than 50 years.

The Department for Transport (DfT^» (Department for Transport - about)) is paying ^76m towards the cost of the road, while Devon County Council and Torbay Council will contribute ^33m and Teignbridge District Council a further ^500,000.

The new road will take three years to build, but when it is finished residents hope the scheme will ease peak time traffic jams.

[John R]

Is this a record for the oldest resurrected thread, just a few days under 4 years? (I can't believe it's that long.....)

[Chris from Nailsea]

I know, John! 

I've merely merged the topics here, in the interests of continuity and completeness, for those who want to research the subject. 

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

Kingskerswell bypass: Bridge demolition work on Christmas Day


The dual carriageway is expected to remove about 95% of the traffic that currently goes through Kingskerswell

A railway bridge demolition that is part of the ^110m South Devon Link Road construction was starting first thing on Christmas Day.

Builders of the 3.4 mile (5.5km) dual carriageway will also be carrying out flood alleviation work.

Devon County Council said the work would affect the main train line and therefore has to be carried out when trains do not run.

The road will link Torbay and Newton Abbot, bypassing Kingskerswell.

Other works will also be taking place over the festive period on the Torbay line.

The council said the building contractor Galliford Try would "take possession of the railway" at the accommodation bridge on Torquay Road, Newton Abbot, and Aller Orchard, Langford and Manor Drive, Kingskerswell, between 25 and 29 December.

There will be no trains running to or from Torbay and Newton Abbot on 27 and 28 December. Replacement bus services will be provided by Network Rail.

The council said users of the A380 would be unaffected and pedestrians would be redirected.

About 800 residents received letters earlier in the year warning them of the demolition and culvert work.

Galliford Try said it was undertaking a number of measures to minimise the impact on local residents, including erecting acoustic barriers to reduce the level of noise.

Jim Watson, project director at Galliford Try, said: "We know that some residents may find this construction work disruptive around the Christmas period but this activity is a fundamental part of the flood relief programme and the construction of the South Devon Link Road."

The link road - which is expected to remove 95% of traffic away from Kingskerswell - is due to be completed by December 2015.

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the Torquay Herald Express:

South Devon rail travel warning as Kingskerswell roadworks brought forward


Kingskerswell bypass

Flood relief work has been brought forward as part of the South Devon Link Road project following the severance of the line at Dawlish.

The works will be done ahead of schedule in order to minimise disruption later on for travellers but will mean changes to train services through South Devon.

By timing them to coincide with the works at Dawlish, both programmes will finish in time to open the main rail route on April 4.

The South Devon Link Road project team have worked closely with First Great Western, Cross Country and Network Rail on the planning of this operation to minimise disruption for passengers.

During the works, contingency arrangements are in place for the rail services affected.

The works include the installation of a large culvert at Keyberry, near Sainsbury^s at Newton Abbot. The culvert is part of vital flood prevention measures to carry water away from the low lying flood plain, reducing the risk of flooding in the area.

Contractor Galliford Try is due to take possession of the railway to install the culvert, which will involve 24 hour working for approximately 6.5 days.

The work will begin on Saturday March 15 at midnight and will conclude on Friday March 21 at 4pm.

As a result there is likely to be an increase in the level of construction noise during due to the machinery being used to undertake the work. Measures to minimise noise include arranging for deliveries within normal working hours where possible, and ensuring machinery is turned off when not in use.

Whilst deliveries may mean extra traffic, this is not expected to affect motorists in the area.

Jim Watson, Project Director at Galliford Try said: ^Although work on the South Devon Link Road is making good progress despite the recent weather events, it has had an impact on our construction activities, with a huge amount of water on site causing issues with earth moving and so certain activities have had to be reprogrammed.

^Initially, we had planned to do this work later on in the schedule, which would have caused some delays to the travelling public, although we would always seek to minimise any impact.

^d like to apologise in advance for any inconvenience this may cause: our Public Liaison team will be on call at all times during this works programme should residents have a need to raise any questions.^

Gordon Oliver, Mayor of Torbay, said: ^Although this activity will cause some disturbance it is a critical piece of work and working this close to the railway constrains when the activity can take place.

^We are pleased that First Great Western and Network Rail are doing all they can to minimise the impact on travellers and improve their journeys at this time. ^

Andrew Leadbetter, Cabinet Member for Economy and Growth at Devon County Council, said: ^The decision to bring this work forward has been made following extensive discussions with Network Rail. Doing the work now ^ whilst the line is already experiencing a high degree of disruption ^ will avoid interrupting services later on during holiday time."

Further information on the works is available on the South Devon Link Road website: www.southdevonlinkroad.co.uk