A38 road (Devon)
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| A38 road (Devon) | |
|---|---|
.png) | |
| Country | England |
| Route | 38 |
| Length mi | 101 |
| Direction a | East |
| Terminus a | Exeter |
| Direction b | West |
| Terminus b | Plymouth |
| Counties | Devon |
A38 road (Devon) is a major trunk route traversing Devon between Exeter and Plymouth, forming a principal arterial link for South West England and connecting to national corridors toward Bristol, London, and Cornwall. The road passes through urban centres such as Newton Abbot, Tiverton, Dawlish, and Torquay and interfaces with strategic transport nodes including M5 motorway, A30 road, M4 motorway, and Heathrow Airport connections. It serves freight flows to Plymouth Docks, passenger services to Paignton Railway Station, and links to tourist destinations like Dartmoor National Park and English Riviera.
Route
The route proceeds westward from Exeter city centre, joining the M5 motorway at the Exeter Services interchange before diverging toward Tiverton Parkway and Cullompton-adjacent corridors. It continues through the Exmoor Coast-proximate lanes toward Dartmoor fringes, passing Ashburton, Buckfastleigh, and then skirts the southern coasts at Dawlish Warren and Teignmouth near the River Teign estuary. Further west it serves Newton Abbot and Paignton on the Torbay coastline, threading through Brixham-linked access roads to approach Plympton and enter Plymouth urban infrastructure, terminating near Devonport Dockyard and connections to Plymouth Hoe.
History
Origins of the corridor trace to turnpike trusts and 18th–19th century route development connecting Exeter and Plymouth for naval and postal traffic to Devonport Dockyard and the Royal Navy. Victorian-era improvements aligned the route with rail expansion by Great Western Railway and London and South Western Railway, influencing alignments near Dawlish and Teignmouth. Twentieth-century upgrades, including pre-war strategic works linked to Portsmouth and Chatham Dockyard logistics, were superseded by post-war road planning integrated into Trunk Roads Act 1946-era policy and later Department for Transport schemes. Cold War-era contingency planning for military mobility shaped sections close to HMS Drake and southern naval bases.
Road improvements and upgrades
Major schemes include dual carriageway sections around Newton Abbot and bypasses at Tavistock-adjacent alignments, implemented under centrally funded trunk road programmes influenced by European Regional Development Fund priorities and national strategic route reviews conducted by the Highways Agency (now National Highways). Engineering works addressed coastal vulnerability at the S Dawlish sea wall alignment after storm damage, coordinating with agencies such as Environment Agency and conservation bodies including Natural England for Site of Special Scientific Interest protections near Dartmoor. Junction remodelling connected the A38 to the A386 road, A380 road, and A379 road, while safety upgrades used standards advocated by Transport Research Laboratory and guidance from Institution of Civil Engineers.
Traffic and safety
Traffic composition includes intermodal freight bound for Plymouth Docks and commuter flows to Exeter St David's, with seasonal tourist peaks linked to English Riviera festivals and Torbay Airshow traffic. Collision mitigation measures deployed include average speed cameras administered by local Devon County Council authorities and traffic calming near school zones such as those feeding South Devon College and City College Plymouth. Accident analysis by Road Safety Analysis Unit and policing by Devon and Cornwall Police informed remedial works near notorious blackspots around Chudleigh and the Kingsteignton bypass. Congestion management has involved incident response coordination with Highways England regional control centres.
Public transport and services
The A38 corridor supports interurban bus networks operated by companies like Stagecoach South West, First South West, and local operators linking to rail interchanges at Newton Abbot railway station and Plymouth railway station. Park-and-ride schemes serving Plympton and Exeter Airport access link coach services to airlines at Bristol Airport and Heathrow Terminal 5 via connecting motorways. Coach operators such as National Express and private tour operators servicing Dartmoor and heritage sites utilize A38-served coach parks near Buckfastleigh Station and visitor centres managed by Dartmoor National Park Authority.
Cultural and economic significance
The route underpins economic activity in South Devon by connecting manufacturing hubs at Plymouth City Centre and Torbay with logistics parks near Exeter Business Park and Marsh Barton. It facilitates tourism to attractions such as Powderham Castle, St Michael's Mount-proximate services, and the South West Coast Path trailheads. Cultural events in towns like Totnes and Dartmouth draw traffic that sustains hospitality sectors and galleries associated with institutions like Royal Albert Memorial Museum and local arts trusts. The A38 has featured in transport policy debates at County Hall, Exeter and parliamentary discussions in Westminster regarding regional connectivity and coastal resilience funding.
Junctions and connections
Key junctions include the link to the M5 motorway at the Exeter Gateway, the interchange with the A30 road toward Bodmin and Penzance, and connections to the A380 road serving Torquay and Paignton. Other important links are to the A386 road toward Tavistock, the A379 road toward Kingsbridge, and urban spurs feeding Plymouth Dockyard and Sutton Harbour. Freight distribution nodes connect to ports including Devonport, ferry services to Isles of Scilly via mainland links, and rail freight terminals at Stoke-area yards, integrating with national networks tied to Crewe and Felixstowe logistics chains.
Category:Roads in Devon