Car finally allowed again, as long-running bridge work draws to a close

After a two month delay, traffic will finally be allowed past a rail bridge in Paignton later.

Network Rail say the replacement of the Torbay Road bridge in Paignton has taken longer due to supply chain issues and it being more complicated than first thought.

Last month residents and councillors held a meeting to voice concerns about the plans:

Following the meeting it was confirmed, rail bosses hope to reopen Torbay Road to traffic one way in early May - with a full road reopening by the end of May before the Jubilee weekend.

Local Ward Councillor Andrew Barrand said: "Residents were originally assured the major inconvenience of replacing the bridge and the road diversions involved would be completed by March, but then were told it would be 8th April before the road would be re-opened.

"Now, due to further delays, the re-opening won’t be until late May."

Mr Barrand says he has been contacted by 'many of those unhappy residents' and he is working together with the local Member of Parliament Kevin Foster and council officials to call for urgent answers.

He added: “It’s been a tough time for local residents who have had to put up with a lot of disruption, including road diversions, cars, buses and heavy lorries being re-directed through residential areas, which has also resulted in problems getting out of their own homes due to heavy congestion.

"On top of this there are possible additional environmental issues from car exhausts as traffic becomes snarled up.

“I have been contacted by neighbours who are concerned about the damage to local side roads, due to heavy goods vehicles and buses being diverted."

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