National Highways will begin a series of improvements on the A38 in Devon next month, backed by an investment of more than £10M over the coming months.
The A38 in Devon is a major trunk road and a key part of England's Strategic Road Network (SRN). It serves as a primary artery connecting Plymouth with Exeter, and continues into Cornwall and the Midlands.
The programme covers refurbishment of the Whitecleave and Mardle viaducts near Buckfastleigh, drainage improvements between Ivybridge and Lee Mill, tree clearance, and resurfacing of the eastbound carriageway between the Peartree interchange and Goodstone junction.
Alongside a scheme to upgrade electronic signage on overhead gantries at Kennford, the work aims to maintain the A38's safety, resilience and reliability.
The route carries up to 24,000 vehicles a day in each direction and is described as vital to the Devon economy.
The first project, replacing expansion joints and improving drainage on the Whitecleave and Mardle viaducts, starts in September and is expected to finish by the end of January.
Expansion joints allow for thermal expansion, contraction and traffic loads within a structure.
After a number of recent repairs, National Highways is now carrying out a full refurbishment and replacement scheme to improve long-term reliability and prevent future maintenance closures.
The work will also tackle problems such as water leaking through bridge joints and into the abutment chamber of the Mardle structure.
Repairs will be carried out in phases. During the work, the A38 will have a single lane in each direction, with enforceable 40mph speed limits in place to protect workers and the travelling public while keeping traffic flows steady.
Full overnight closures will be in place on weeknights from 8pm to 6am between 2 September and 24 October. Additional night closures will take place in November and December, and from 4 January to 25 January.
National Highways route manager Ed Halford said: "Many of the structures we manage were built over half a century ago and now need renewing or replacing to ensure they remain fit and safe for purpose.
"It's essential that we futureproof the viaducts now, to ensure their reliability and to limit the need for future maintenance work, and along with the other works, and further renewal plans for the A38, this represents a significant investment in this busy route."
He added: "We appreciate roadworks can impact on people's journeys, and we're doing everything we can to minimise disruption, by keeping lanes running in each direction while work takes place during the day and by working overnight when traffic levels are at their lowest."
Further west, drainage improvements between Ivybridge and Lee Mill will address a flooding hotspot and improve safety on a section of the A38 where surface water has been recorded during heavy rain. The drainage scheme is due to start in November, with a contraflow in place on the dual carriageway until the following October.
Tree clearance work along the A38 is ongoing, including the removal of trees affected by ash dieback and others posing a safety risk.
Further east, a resurfacing scheme will cover a two-and-a-half-mile section of the eastbound A38 between the Peartree and Goodstone junctions. The work is due to take place in 2027, after the viaduct scheme is completed.
The programme forms part of National Highways' wider work to maintain the A38 and ensure the route can safely handle traffic volumes for many years to come.
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A38 in Devon Set for £10M Upgrade Package