MOTORISTS in Dawlish are dealing with more upheaval with the closure of the main road into the town.

Wales and West Utilities has started work laying several kilometres of new, upgraded gas pipes.

But the work means the closure of the A379 Exeter Road.

The official diversion route has also sparked anger among residents as this involves going along the A380 and through Teignmouth, adding miles onto what would normally be short journeys.

As one resident pointed out: ‘The official diversion route is absolutely nuts.’

What would normally be a six minute trip to her daughter’s nursery will now be a 35 minute or longer journey.

One taxi firm has announced it will not be operating at all for the week of the road closure.

Road closure signs went up this morning and it is being described as ‘carnage’.

One resident reported it was ‘chaos’ with an HGV ‘just moving cones’ to get through.

Another reported drivers still trying to go down Exeter Road.

The A379 will be closed until April 24 with no access onto Exeter Road from Elm Grove Road until April 19.

Then there will be multi-way traffic lights on Exeter Road from April 24 to June 8.

Devon Highways said: ‘Please follow the signed diversion and expect longer journey times.’

But as one resident said: ‘The couple of roads that the whole of Dawlish are being forced to use is not going to cope with the volume of traffic

‘Very few locals are going to use the official diversion which is up to the dual carriageway.

‘The non official route is the back roads which all local people will continue to use.’

Stagecoach bus services 2 and 11 is operating a diversion route between Exeter and Dawlish town centre via the A380 and Teignmouth but not serving passengers from Exminster to Dawlish Warren.

Devon County Council and Wales and West Utilities are paying for a shuttle bus to run between the top of Elm Grove Road and Exeter via Starcross, Kenton and Exminster.