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| A386 | |
|---|---|
| Name | A386 |
| Country | England |
| Route | 386 |
| Length mi | 45 |
| Terminus a | Plymouth |
| Terminus b | Tavistock |
| Counties | Devon |
| Maintained by | National Highways |
A386 is a primary route in Devon linking coastal Plymouth with inland Tavistock via towns and villages across western Devon and the Tamar Valley. The route connects major transport nodes such as Plymouth railway station, Plymouth Hoe, and the A30 trunk road, and serves as a corridor between maritime, industrial, and rural landscapes including the River Plym, River Tamar, and the Dartmoor fringe. It passes through historic market towns, military installations, and regional economic centres, integrating with national routes such as the A38 and local arteries toward Plymouth Sound and the Devonport dockyard.
The road begins in Plymouth near Devonport and Millbay Docks, proceeding northwards through the urban fabric adjacent to Plymouth Cathedral, Plymouth City Centre, and the Royal William Yard. It crosses the River Plym and skirts the western edge of Plymstock before ascending toward the rural parishes near Yelverton and Sampford Spiney. Continuing northwest, the route intersects with the A38 (Devon) at a major junction near Roborough and provides access to Smeaton's Tower and Jennycliff Bay via local spurs. The A386 then follows the valley of the River Walkham toward Tavistock, passing close to the Dartmoor National Park boundary and terminating near the town centre adjacent to the Tavistock Pannier Market and the Tavistock railway station (heritage).
Originally traced along medieval coaching roads linking Plymouth to Tavistock and market centres such as Lydford and Bere Alston, the modern A386 emerged from early 20th-century classification of trunk routes by the Ministry of Transport. Twentieth-century improvements corresponded with naval expansion at Devonport Dockyard and the strategic significance assigned during the First World War and Second World War for movements between HMNB Devonport and inland logistics hubs. Postwar reconstruction under plans influenced by the Road Research Laboratory and the Ministry of Transport led to realignments near Plymouth and bypasses around villages like Horrabridge and Yelverton. Late 20th-century upgrades paralleled initiatives by the Department for Transport and regional programmes involving Devon County Council.
Key interchanges include the junction with the A38 near Roborough, providing links toward Exeter and Bodmin. Urban intersections in Plymouth connect to the A374 and provide access to Saltash via the Royal Albert Bridge and the A386's maritime approaches near Millbay. Intermediate nodes at Yelverton and Sampford Spiney feature grade-separated and signalised junctions enabling connections to the B3357 toward Okehampton and to lanes toward Princetown. Near Tavistock the terminus meets local A-class and B-class routes feeding historic sites such as Tavistock Abbey and the Buckfast Abbey pilgrimage corridor.
The A386 carries a mix of commuter, freight, military, and tourist traffic. Peak flows originate in Plymouth and the South West Peninsula commuting area, with seasonal increases attributed to visitors bound for Dartmoor National Park, Tamar Valley AONB, and coastal attractions like Saltram House. Freight movements serve HMNB Devonport, regional distribution centres linked to Western National routes, and agricultural produce from Devon market towns. Traffic counts collected by Devon County Council and national surveys indicate congestion hotspots at the A38 interchange and through Plymouth City Centre during morning and evening peaks, while quieter rural segments near Lydford exhibit low average daily traffic but higher proportions of heavy goods vehicles during harvest and construction periods.
Maintenance responsibility rests with National Highways for trunk sections and with Devon County Council for local segments. Historic works include pavement strengthening funded through Local Transport Plan allocations and bridge rehabilitation projects near the River Plym under programmes influenced by the Highways Agency. Recent improvements have included junction remodelling near Roborough to enhance capacity, resurfacing schemes in Plymouth funded through devolved transport settlement agreements with Cornwall Council for cross-border coordination, and drainage upgrades near Sampford Spiney to reduce flood-related closures. Proposed schemes under regional transport strategies envisage active travel enhancements connecting to Plymouth City Council cycling initiatives and safety improvements around school zones adjacent to Tavistock College.
The A386 links heritage sites such as Smeaton's Tower, Saltram House, and Tavistock Pannier Market with industrial assets like HMNB Devonport and service sectors concentrated in Plymouth and Tavistock. It supports tourism to Dartmoor National Park, cultural events at Plymouth Hoe and festivals in Tavistock, and economic flows between coastal ports and inland markets including connections to Plymouth University and Plymouth Citybus corridors. The route has featured in regional planning debates involving South West Councils, conservation groups such as the National Trust, and heritage rail advocates linked to the Tavistock to Bere Alston railway proposals, underscoring its role as both a transport artery and a cultural landscape spine across western Devon.
Category:Roads in Devon