Funding boost for Marjon Link Road scheme in Derriford

Plymouth City Council has won more than £1 million to provide a new bus link road between Derriford Hospital and the University of St Mark and St John (Marjon).

The grant, awarded by the Department for Transport through its Local Pinch Point Fund, was announced by Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin earlier today. Up to £190 million is being made available through the fund over the next two years to help councils free up bottlenecks on the highway and unlock development sites to support local businesses and communities.

The Marjon Link Road Scheme will provide a two-way, bus-only road between Marjon and Derriford Hospital, with a segregated cycleway and footpath. It will allow bus services to bypass part of the A386 and the heavily congested Derriford Roundabout, improving bus journey times and reliability as well as providing better access to the campus.

As part of the scheme a dedicated lane will be provided on Derriford Road for traffic turning right into the hospital, which will not only reduce delays for buses serving the hospital but also other traffic wanting to travel straight on at this junction. This should improve journey times for people needing to access the Tamar Science Park and other business sites.

Digital ‘real time’ displays will also be provided in the bus stops on the link road, as well as inside the foyer and waiting areas of the hospital and Marjon.

The new link road will help to ease congestion on the main route into Plymouth from the North and, together with the recently built Runway Road, will provide some of the strategic transport infrastructure needed to support Derriford’s future growth. An additional £450,000 of developer contributions will help to fund the £1.5 million scheme.

Councillor Mark Coker, Cabinet Member for Transport said “This funding is great news for people living, working and studying in Derriford, as well as those travelling in and out of Plymouth along this busy route.

“The new link road will help to reduce congestion at Derriford Roundabout and improve the reliability of bus services – which will hopefully encourage operators to extend more of their services to call in at Derriford Hospital and Marjon. It will also provide better and safer facilities for pedestrians and cyclists and form part of the new north to south cycle route between Derriford and the train station and city centre.

“In the longer term, the new link road will deliver the next phase of transport infrastructure needed to support future growth within the Derriford area.”

Construction is due to start in Summer 2014 and the link road is expected to open in Spring 2015.

The new Marjon link road will provide bus services currently using the A386 between Derriford Roundabout and the George Junction an alternative, less congested route. From Derriford Roundabout they will serve Derriford Road, Derriford Hospital, Marjon Link Road, Plymbridge Lane, Runway Road and the A386 to the George Junction (and the same in the opposite direction).