Transport minister Andrew Jones has opened a new £110m bypass in Devon.
The 3.5 mile South Devon Highway bypasses the village of Kinkerswell and is expected to carry the majority of the estimated one million vehicles a month that previously passed through the village.
The Department for Transport (DfT) says the road was completed on time and on budget and is expected to deliver a near £1bn return on its investment, creating hundreds of jobs and benefiting local tourism.
Devon by-pass, picture from Department for Transport
The DfT paid around £76m for the project, with the balance being shared between Torbay Council, Devon County Council and Teignbridge District Council, which contributed £500,000.
Mr Jones said: ‘I am pleased our investment in the South Devon Highway is already delivering better journeys for thousands of hard-working people in Torbay and Newton Abbot.
‘The road will help create new jobs and give a welcome economic boost to the region, but most importantly end the unpredictable travel times for drivers.’
Cllr John Hart, leader of Devon County Council said: ‘This project has been much more than about building a road: it’s been about connecting communities, helping revitalise a community and improving the economic outlook for the whole of south Devon.
‘The transformation that has taken place since is proof of a strong joint working partnership: it proves that local government can deliver and that councils create a climate for growth.’
