After 45 years of waiting, a plan to tackle one of Devon's worst traffic jams has finally been given the green light. The city council has said that they will only use compulsory purchase orders as a "a last resort" to make sure a £46 million road improvement scheme can start in the next two years.

The scheme is designed to reduce congestion on the outskirts of Plymouth. The council has agreed to buy the rest of the 32 pieces of land needed to turn Tavistock Road (A386) into a dual carriageway. However, they have said that they would rather negotiate to buy land, including private gardens and businesses.

For over four decades, there have been plans to sort out the traffic problems. Around 30,000 vehicles a day use this part of Tavistock Road, and it gets very busy at peak times.

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The Woolwell roundabout will be replaced with a signalled junction, and a new junction will be created at Woolwell Crescent. The first phase of the work is due to start this year, reports Plymouth Live.

Plymouth councillors believe that the scheme will make bus services more reliable and create better links to and from the north of the city. This is where 2,000 new homes, known as the Woolwell Urban Extension, are due to be built.

The scheme will also include new cycle paths, wider footpaths and safer crossing points.

The councillor responsible for transport, Mark Coker (Lab, Devonport ), said cabinet members needed to be sure that benefits of the scheme outweighed the interference with land not owned by the council, and that compulsory purchase orders are justified.

Some people have objected to the CPO since it was approved "in principle" in November 2021. As a result, four affected properties have been removed from the plans and land at further 21 properties amended.

Cllr Coker said the benefits to drivers, local businesses, bus passengers, pedestrians and cyclists from the scheme would be "huge". He continued: "This has been a pinch point on our network for some considerably time with people experiencing frustrating hold ups and delays."

"But I want to reach agreement with affected landowners through negotiation. CPO is last resort. Any decision to acquire third party land is not an easy one, and has to be taken with careful consideration. I am fully aware that this scheme has direct impact on resident bordering the scheme who just want to get on with their lives."

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The scheme was awarded £5 million from the Department for Transport's Transforming Cities Fund and £20 million from the government's Levelling Up Fund to tackle congestion and improve public transport on one of Plymouth's busiest roads.

It will be split into three phases. Cabinet members also agreed to make 'side road orders' to allow alterations to the road and private access to affected land and an additional £4 million to provide certainty for the project on top of £33 million already allocated.

A further £2 million will come from the Integrated Transport Block (ITB) Grant and another £2 million from Section 106 funds collected from developers.