ESSENTIAL refurbishment work on one of Newton Abbot’s busiest main roads is going to cause ‘unmitigated pain’ and ‘gridlock chaos’ for at least a week.

Highways officers have revealed a major artery into Newton Abbot is going to be shut down for resurfacing works.

Wolborough Street, a popular route with daily commuters, is to undergo a facelift with motorists facing more misery this October.

The exact location of the block is yet to be confirmed but it is believed to stretch from the speed camera near Bakers Park right down to the traffic lights near ASDA.

A spokesman for Devon County Council said the work will be carried out in October but workers haven’t nailed down the exact dates yet as it is still in the planning stages, but it could well be during the school half-term holidays.

It is understood that a diversion will be in place for cars via Coach Road and HGVs trying to get into the town will have to go via Paignton. Thousands of drivers use the road – which connects Newton Abbot to Totnes, Ipplepen, Denbury and Abbotskerswell – each day.

Cllr Gordon Hook, Lib Dem leader at Teignbridge, said: ‘The street is poorly maintained. ‘It is going to rack and ruin and needs major work. ‘In my opinion it will be chaos and I have urged the county council to do what they can to reduce it. ‘It is going to be a week of unmitigated pain and gridlock chaos.’ It is not yet known how the closure will impact residents living in roads like Linden Terrace and Waltham Road whose only way out in a car is via Wolborough Street.

Town development manager Sally Henley said: ‘We have known that the surface of the road has been deteriorating for some time and remedial works have become absolutely essential.’ She had hoped the works would be carried out in February when the town is quieter but officials say the road might not hold until then. Ms Henley added: ‘Business representatives agreed that the county council was in a unenviable position and that it would be better to have a well-managed process in October, rather than having to potentially deal with an emergency situation when the town was in the thick of Christmas trading.’