Major Plymouth city centre road closed for next seven weeks

Exeter Street viaduct (pictured) is closed inbound for the next seven weeks for roadworks. Credit: Google Maps

A major road in Plymouth city centre has closed for seven weeks.

Exeter Street viaduct, which links Charles Cross and St Andrew’s Cross in the city centre, has closed for roadworks.

The 140-metre stretch of road will remain closed inbound from today (May 20) until Saturday, July 7.

The seven-week closure is to allow work to be carried out on the new Drake Circus Leisure complex, called The Box.

The Exeter Street viaduct diversions Credit: Plymouth City Council

South West Highways, who are overseeing the works, will redesign the existing carriageway to ensure the city’s road network can cope with the increase in traffic.

Pavements will be repaved with granite slabs and existing billboards upgraded in order to match improvements made by McLaren Group, who are building The Box.

What diversions have been put in place?

Drivers wanting the access the city centre from Charles Cross roundabout must now detour via Charles Street, Cobourg Street, Western Approach and then on to Royal Parade.

When the inbound carriageway is finished, work will switch to the outbound side for a further 10-week period.

Details of that diversion will be made available by the city council nearer the time.

The right turn out of the Drake Circus car park is also closed for the next five weeks as part of the Charles Cross Transport Improvement scheme.