IMPROVEMENTS to a stretch of motorway at Cullompton are expected to start soon.

The work is part of a joint scheme between Devon County Council and the Highways Agency to ‘improve the capacity’ at Junction 28 on the M5.

The council hope the work will cut congestion by introducing traffic lights at the top of the slip road and re-opening the nearside lane.

The scheme will be paid for by housing developers in the town and the first phase of the project, which includes removing the bollards, is estimated to cost around £90,000.

A council spokesman said: “The work will firstly involve removing the bollards from the northbound slip.

“Queuing traffic obviously presents a serious safety issue for the Highways Agency if fast moving traffic meets stationary vehicles so providing an additional lane will allow the traffic to queue in two lanes, thereby significantly reducing the risk.

“Additional signage on the slip road and minor works to the kerb line at the roundabout will also be necessary.”

The bollards were originally put in place to prevent bottlenecks at the top of the sliproad and that is now hoped to be avoided by making the roundabout smaller.

The council say the work is expected to be carried out this financial year, adding: “We are also progressing feasibility design work to signalise the junction to improve traffic flow on the network and support further growth in Cullompton.”