THE Highways Agency is to scale down its proposals for planned improvements to the Fingle Glen Junction on the A30. Following a high proportion of objections to a larger scale junction improvement, the agency has decided to proceed with a smaller scale safety scheme which can be delivered more quickly. The revised scheme will involve closing the central reservation gap to prevent traffic turning right across lanes of traffic. The existing Fingle Glen junction provides access from the A30 dual carriageway to local roads via a gap in the central reserve. Traffic flows on the A30 can typically approach 55,000 vehicles on Saturdays in August. There have been two fatalities and eleven injury accidents at the junction over the past 15 years. The Highways Agency is committed to improving safety on its roads, and this includes a policy of closing central reserve crossing points on high-speed roads wherever possible. Plans for the larger proposed £3-million improvements at the junction went on show in October, and more than 250 people visited the exhibition at Pathfinder Village Hall. That proposal included the closure of the central reserve gap and the use of the nearby Barton Head Bridge, to form a ready made flyover for traffic wishing to leave or join the westbound carriageway of the A30. A total of 113 objections to the proposal were received. As a result a public inquiry would have been needed if the improvement scheme as proposed was to proceed. The extended programme required for such an inquiry meant future funding for the scheme could not be guaranteed and the agency, therefore, decided to proceed with the safety scheme for the closure of the central reservation alone. Malcolm Roberts, the agency's area performance manager, said: 'The safety of road users is of the highest importance to us, and we wish to avoid any further delay in making this junction as safe as possible. 'We will close the gap and prevent right turns under a temporary traffic regulation order which will be in force for a period of 18 months from early in the New Year. During this period we will monitor the results and seek views as to whether there should be a permanent closure.' The signed route for diverted traffic will be agreed with Devon County Council, which is the highway authority for the C50 (the route of the old A30). The proposal is to sign diverted traffic to Woodleigh Junction and then back on the eastbound carriageway to Fingle Glen. It is hoped this will keep any increase in traffic on the C50 to a minimum.