Strand Road Closure

Why we need to close the road

The last major pieces of work will be carried out along Cary Parade (arcade side), at the Fleet Street / Strand junction, and at the Torwood Street / Victoria Parade junction. This work will see large areas dug up, allowing for junction reconfiguration, and signal and lighting infrastructure to be installed, before final resurfacing and lining work takes place. Work will also be taking place along the central strip of the Strand.

The road closure element was part of the original programme of works but has been delayed supporting the vital visitor economy over the summer months.

The original programme of work had two separate road closures, totalling 10-weeks. We have been able to reduce the amount of time the road closure is needed to reduce disruption to businesses and the community.

Diversion route

A fully signed diversion route will be in place to direct motorists around the closure. The diversion route will include parking suspensions in some areas to help larger vehicles navigate the route and to keep traffic flowing.

Some aspects of the diversion route (Parkhill Road) will be clearly signed that the route is not suitable for large vehicles.

Victoria Parade and Beacon Quay can continue to be accessed via Torwood Street, but traffic control will be in operation 24-hours a day.

We know local people will use their local knowledge to navigate the road closure. Please bear in mind these routes will largely be residential areas and not all routes will be suitable for large vehicles. Motorists are asked not to use existing vehicle restricted areas as ‘cut throughs’ as the usual restrictions will remain in place.

Access arrangements

Access will remain to:

• Fleet Walk car park from Cary Parade (access also available via Rock Road).
• Victoria Parade and Beacon Quay can continue to be accessed via Torwood Street, but traffic control will be in operation 24-hours a day.
• Marina car park and most on-street car parking along Torbay Road will be unaffected by the road closure.

Advice for accessing the harbourside

• All businesses and car parks are open as usual. Please keep supporting local businesses.
• Walk, cycle or travel by bus into the area where possible.
• On your approach to the harbourside, follow signs to the nearest car park, or use on-street parking.
• If travelling from the sea front / Paignton direction, use Shedden Hill or Fleet Walk car parks.
• If travelling from Babbacombe, use Harbour, Beacon Quay or Meadfoot Road car parks.

Pedestrian, cyclist and emergency access

• Safe pedestrian access will be maintained throughout the closure.
• Cyclists may be asked to dismount when passing through some areas. Cyclists can still use the Victoria Parade / Inner Harbour bridge route to get to Torbay Road / Princess Gardens.
• Access for emergency service vehicles will be available.

Buses

The closure will have a significant impact on buses, as services will not be able to travel through Fleet Street or the Strand and bus stops on both sides of Cary Parade and along Fleet Street will be temporarily closed.

Revised and replacement routes for all affected services operated by Stagecoach and Torbay Buses will be in operation.

Taxis

Taxi passengers can continue to find ranks on Vaughan Road, lower Fleet Street, Torwood Street and Victoria Parade. Advice for taxi passengers is to head to the rank that is in the direction you would like to travel in to avoid additional fares. For example, if wanting to travel towards Babbacombe, use the ranks on either Torwood Street or Victoria Parade. If travelling towards Paignton, to use the rank on Vaughan Road.

Private hire vehicles will be able to pick up and drop off passengers on Cary Parade at the Cary Green side bus stop which will be temporarily closed.

Deliveries

• During the closure, no vehicles will be able to pass through the Strand (Fleet Walk car park exit to the Clock Tower).
• Fleet Street cannot be accessed via the Strand and vice versa. Delivery vehicles must enter and exit Fleet Street via the GPO roundabout (Tesco end).
• Businesses should advise their suppliers, drivers, customers and employees of the closure, diversion route and alternative access arrangements.
• Any business with specific access requirements should speak directly to the contractor.

Vaughan Road | Palk Street

• Access via Torbay Road direction.

Victoria Parade | Beacon Quay

• Access via Torwood Street or Parkhill Road. Parkhill Road is not suitable for large vehicles.

Torwood Street area

• Access via Babbacombe Road.

Fleet Walk | Street

• Access via car park | service area on Cary Parade from Torbay Road direction.
• Access via Fleet Street (GPO roundabout | Tesco).
• Exiting Fleet Walk car park is only via a right-hand turn onto Cary Parade.

Half term

Due to work taking place in four different areas at once, it is not possible to open the area to traffic during the half-term week.

Due to the nature of the work happening in earlier phases, we were able to work with the contractor to provide two-way traffic for two-weeks over Easter, two-weeks over May | June and we have had two-way traffic running since 19 July.

The project has now reached a point where the road closure is necessary to get the scheme finished.

Our advice to the public will be that businesses and car parks in and around the area remain open as usual. It is important that we all share that message through our own networks.

Bay of Lights Illumination Trail

The Bay of Lights Illumination Trail will run from Friday 29 November to Thursday 2 January.

The harbourside and the new public realm space will be one of the main focal points of this year’s trail.

An opening night event is planned for Friday 29 November in the new public realm space. There will be live entertainment throughout the evening. Further details will be available soon.

Read more about the Bay of Lights Illumination Trail.

In addition to the opening night event, live entertainment is also planned every Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 5.30pm to 9.45pm in the lead up to Christmas.