Traffic in Dawlish descended into chaos this morning as South West Water (SWW) resumed essential infrastructure work on Elm Grove Road, prompting delays, confusion and frustration among motorists, residents and parents on the school run.
The work forms part of a multi-million pound scheme to improve water quality and upgrade the town’s wastewater system — a long-term project that has seen road closures and traffic management introduced in key residential areas.
Traffic Disruption at a Critical Junction
Elm Grove Road, which links to Exeter Road and passes both Dawlish College and Gatehouse Primary School, has been made subject to a temporary one-way system and a 20 mph speed limit as drilling, excavations and piping work continue.
Drivers described the situation as “chaos,” with many reporting that the signage is unclear or insufficient, leaving motorists unsure how the temporary traffic system functions.
One local parent said the morning school run had become “an absolute nightmare,” with some drivers ignoring “Road Closed” signs to drop off children and others emerging unsafely from the Elm Grove junction.
Another complained that no advance notice was provided before the new restrictions, meaning motorists were only made aware of lane closures at the point of entry.
Concerns from Residents and Parents
Several residents called for better traffic management and parking restrictions along Elm Grove Road, which has become a bottleneck during peak hours due to parked cars and impatient drivers.
“There should be clear instructions telling people to use alternate routes like Sandy Lane if they are aiming for the Gatehouse end — right now it’s just a joke,” one frustrated motorist said.
Others reported being caught out by temporary traffic lights and having to pass through them multiple times, adding to congestion and delays.
Background: Why the Work Matters — and Why It Was Delayed
The work on Elm Grove Road was originally scheduled for the summer holidays, but it was delayed after contractors discovered an unmapped gas pipe, forcing SWW to revise its plans.
The ongoing project is part of a region-wide investment in Dawlish’s wastewater network designed to reduce sewage overload and improve bathing water quality by separating surface water from foul drains and increasing storage capacity.
While SWW acknowledges the disruption these works cause, it says they are essential for the long-term resilience of Dawlish’s infrastructure — particularly as the town grows and weather patterns change.
Wider Traffic Challenges in Dawlish
This latest chaos comes against a backdrop of other traffic strains in the town.
Previous long-standing issues with heavy vehicular traffic using residential streets for construction access prompted the opening of a new link road aimed at diverting lorries away from Elm Grove and other neighbourhoods.
However, even after that route was made available to construction vehicles, residents continued to report HGVs and other large vehicles using unsuitable roads — a sign that wider traffic management challenges remain.
What’s Next?
South West Water has been approached for comment on the current situation and information on how long the disruption is expected to continue.
It is understood the Elm Grove work will progress over the coming months, with an aim to minimise peak-hour impacts where possible.
Local authorities and SWW have historically promised manned traffic points at busy times to ease congestion during school drop-off and pick-up periods — a measure that may be redeployed more actively in response to today’s issues.
