Wills Bros Secures £13.8M Devon Relief Road Contract

Why It Matters

The project will ease congestion in Cullompton, improve regional connectivity, and generate construction jobs, underscoring the UK’s focus on upgrading secondary road networks.

Key Takeaways

• Wills Bros wins $17.5M Devon relief road contract
• Project spans June 2026–January 2028, building 1.3 km bypass
• Includes new 15 m single‑span bridge and flood‑relief culverts
• Demolition of sports facilities; replacement facilities coordinated separately
• Features 500 m shared‑use paths, lighting columns, and extensive fencing

Pulse Analysis

The Cullompton Town Centre Relief Road marks a significant addition to Devon’s transport infrastructure, addressing chronic bottlenecks that have hampered local commerce and commuter flow. By creating a 1.3‑kilometre bypass around the historic town centre, the project aligns with the UK government’s broader agenda to modernise secondary routes and reduce reliance on congested urban streets. The £13.8 million contract, equivalent to roughly $17.5 million, reflects both the scale of civil works required and the confidence of public authorities in Wills Bros’ delivery capability.

Beyond the headline‑grabbing bypass, the scheme incorporates a suite of engineering solutions designed to future‑proof the corridor. A 15‑metre, 20‑degree skew single‑span bridge over Spratford Mill Stream demonstrates advanced prefabricated techniques, while a network of flood‑relief culverts and sizeable attenuation basins tackles the region’s drainage challenges. Earthworks will move approximately 16,000 cubic metres of fill, reshaping embankments to accommodate steep‑sided sections. The project also navigates community sensitivities, requiring demolition of existing sports facilities and coordination with parallel contracts to replace them, ensuring minimal disruption to local recreation.

For Wills Bros, securing the Devon contract strengthens its foothold in the competitive UK civil‑engineering market, positioning the firm for subsequent infrastructure bids across the Southwest. The construction phase will inject jobs and procurement spend into the local economy, while the completed road is expected to boost property values and attract new businesses to the area. As regional authorities continue to prioritise resilient, low‑emission transport links, projects like the Cullompton relief road serve as a template for integrating traffic decongestion, flood mitigation, and community amenities into a single, cost‑effective package.