Preparations begin for Marjon link

Work to clear the site for the new Marjon Link Road begins today (Monday 3 February).

The link road will provide a new two-way route for buses, cyclists and pedestrians between the University of St Mark and St John and Derriford Hospital and is being built thanks to more than £1 million from the Department for Transport’s Local Pinch Point Fund.

Designed by the Council’s highways contractor Amey, the scheme will significantly improve bus journey times between the University and Hospital and ease congestion on Tavistock Road. It will also provide new and safer options for cyclists and walkers in this part of the city.

February’s site clearance work will see vegetation and trees removed in preparation for construction of the new road, which will start in July and is expected to be completed in Spring 2015.

The work has been timed to minimise disruption to local birdlife and will be completed before the bird nesting season starts in March. Once construction is complete more than 230 new native species trees will be planted to restore the nesting habitats in the area.

Footpaths will remain open throughout the works and disruption to motorists will be minimal. There will be stop-go boards in use on Derriford Road for the first four days, but only during off-peak times (9.30am to 3pm).

Councillor Mark Coker, Cabinet Member for Transport, said: “It will be great to see work get under way on this long-awaited link road, which will bring some welcome relief to one of the city’s busiest transport corridors. I hope the new traffic-free routes between Marjon and the hospital will also encourage more people to travel by foot and by bike."