Devon County Council has welcomed news that the Government has agreed to partially fund the Council s plans to provide major road improvements east of Exeter.

Devon County Council has welcomed news that the Government has agreed to partially fund the Council's plans to provide major road improvements east of Exeter.

The Government has announced that it will earmark �12 million to fund the improvement works, which will require further funding from the County Council.

It means that the Council's plans for extensive road improvements can now proceed, which is vital for major projects including the Exeter Science Park, Cranbrook, and Sky Park developments.

The plans include:

* A new junction adjacent to Junction 29 of the M5 to replace the congested slip roads at the A30 Blackhorse Junction

* Right turn provisions both westbound from the A30 to the C832 (the old A30), and eastbound from the A30 to M5 south.

* Two additional lanes on the M5 southbound off-slip and realignment and additional lanes on the northbound off-slip

* Bus priority measures along sections of the old A30

* Additional bus lanes on the Clyst-Honiton / Inter-Modal Terminal Junction

Improving the public transport infrastructure is an important element of the plans, to manage the expected increase in passenger numbers in future, once Sky Park, the Science Park and Cranbrook become developed.

With the funding now in place, the Council will complete more detailed designs before tendering for the works. Then the Council will need to apply for full funding approval from the Government. All being well, the Council hopes work will start in October 2010.

"The County Council has put an enormous amount of work into the preliminary plans and consultation to get the project this far," said Edward Chorlton, Devon County Council's Director for Environment, Economy and Culture.

"News that the Government will earmark �12 million for the work is excellent, and paves the way for us to proceed to the next, more detailed stages.

"This work is vital to the local economy because it will provide much better links with the City and access to the major employment areas east of Exeter, including Exeter Science Park and Sky Park. And to the planned Cranbrook development.