Work begins on Dinan Way extension

Work is now underway on the long-anticipated Dinan Way extension in Exmouth, a scheme designed to ease congestion and improve traffic flow in the area.

A ceremonial turf cutting marked the official start of the £16 million project, with Devon County Council Chairman John Hart joined by David Reed MP for Exmouth and Exeter East, councillors, project partners, and contractor Octavius Infrastructure Limited, who will be delivering the scheme.

The project will see Dinan Way extended by 830 metres, connecting its junction with Hulham Road to the A376 Exmouth Road. Scheduled to take 12 months, the work is expected to be completed by the end of 2025.

The scheme will also involve the construction of two new roundabouts—one at the Hulham Road junction and another at the connection to the A376.

Temporary traffic lights, which will be manually operated between 7am and 6pm, will be in place for much of the work, along with overnight closures for resurfacing in the summer.

Councillor John Hart said: “It was always originally planned for Dinan Way to connect to the A376, and this scheme does that. This extension itself may not be that long, but it has the potential to be transformational for Exmouth and the wider area, offering better access to business parks and employment areas, which can boost the local economy, and supporting housing development planned on the northern outskirts of the town.”

The project will also deliver benefits for active travel, with a new two-metre-wide shared path for pedestrians and cyclists running alongside the extended road. In addition, Summer Lane will be closed to through traffic, creating safer walking and cycling routes and improving connections to the Exe Estuary Trail, which links to the town centre, rail station, and seafront.

David Reed MP for Exmouth and Exeter East said: “After decades of campaigning, Exmouth’s missing link road will finally be complete and will give our town much-improved transport flow. Credit where it is due to East Devon’s former MP, Simon Jupp, for leading the charge in the last parliament and securing the circa £16 million to fund the new road.”

Councillor Andrea Davis, Devon County Council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Environment, and Transport, added: “This scheme will reduce congestion, improve journey times, and provide a more direct bus route to Exeter, while also unlocking improved links to walking and cycling routes—all of which will help tackle carbon emissions.”

The project is being funded by the UK Government, with contributions from Devon County Council, East Devon District Council, and Exmouth Town Council.