DETAILS of major work which will shut down one of Newton Abbot’s main arteries have been revealed.

Wolborough Street – a road used by thousands of drivers a day – will be blocked off for one week in February 2018 so essential repairs can be carried out.

The closure will be in place from February 12 until 17 and will stretch from the Ogwell Cross Roundabout down to the traffic lights near Asda.

Highways officers say the road will be closed on a 24 hours basis and is being done during school half-term to minimise disruption.

The stretch from Pomeroy Road to Waltham Road is going to be completely reconstructed and the road from Waltham to Beverly Gardens is to have deep patching repairs.

A new surface will be laid from Pomeroy Road to Beverley Gardens.

Motorists will face a long diversion route via Totnes and Torbay to get into the town.

A spokesman for Devon County Council said: ‘The A381 is a major link between Newton Abbot and Totnes which carries all types of traffic and there are no roads of a similar standard in the immediate area of the work which can be used as a diversion route.

‘Therefore it is necessary to direct traffic via the A380 South Devon Link Road, A380 Torbay Ring Road and the A385 to Totnes and vice versa.’

Wolborough Street connects the town with Abbotskerswell, Denbury, Ipplepen and Totnes.

Residents who live in the roads which will be blocked off by the works will be offered assistance within the closed section. As will delivery vehicles.

The X64 Dartmouth to Exeter bus service will be diverted around the official route.

But Country Bus and Devon County Council are still in negotiations over its services.

‘There will be alternate services to cover these routes but details have not yet been finalised,’ the spokesman added.