Exeter residents invited to have their say on major Dryden Road changes

Exeter residents are being asked to help decide the future of Dryden Road, with major traffic changes now out for public consultation.

Devon County Council has launched a consultation running from Monday 2 March until noon on Sunday 5 April 2026 on proposals that could introduce a bus gate, a one-way system or restore two-way traffic along Dryden Road in Wonford. 

The plans also include potential new pedestrian crossings and changes to speed limits.

The review follows a decision by councillors on the Exeter Highways and Traffic Orders Committee (HATOC) in October 2025 to look again at traffic arrangements in the area after ongoing concerns from residents.

At the centre of the debate is the section of Dryden Road between Well Oak Park and Kipling Drive. During the COVID-19 pandemic, temporary restrictions were introduced using national funding to encourage walking and cycling. 

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Motor vehicle access was restricted to help create a safer link along the E9 strategic cycle route. In 2022, councillors voted to make that closure permanent.

The E9 cycle corridor connects key destinations across Exeter, including the city centre, County Hall, the Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital, Pynes Hill and Sowton, areas supporting tens of thousands of jobs. 

However, since the bollards were installed, some residents have raised concerns about traffic being diverted onto surrounding streets, particularly Bovemoors Lane.

The council is now consulting on three main options.

The first option would introduce a bus and authorised vehicle gate on Dryden Road between Jasmine Lodge and Bovemoors Lane. Only buses, taxis, refuse vehicles and emergency services would be allowed through. 

Three on-street parking spaces would be removed, an enforcement camera installed and the speed limit between Barrack Road and Wonford House reduced from 30mph to 20mph with speed cushions added. 

This is the lowest-cost option, estimated at up to £100,000. The council expects it would reduce traffic on Bovemoors Lane but increase vehicle movements along Dryden Road compared to the current layout.

The second option would create a one-way westbound system for vehicles between Well Oak Park and Kipling Drive, with a contraflow cycle lane for cyclists travelling eastbound. The speed limit would again be reduced to 20mph on part of the route. Sub-options are proposed for the eastern end between Bovemoors Lane and Wonford Street. One version would remove around 22 on-street parking spaces to create dedicated cycle lanes, while the other would keep the current layout. 

This option is estimated to cost between £101,000 and £200,000. Traffic modelling suggests vehicle numbers on Dryden Road would rise compared to the current bollard arrangement, while flows on Bovemoors Lane would reduce towards previous levels.

The third option would reopen Dryden Road fully to two-way traffic and introduce advisory cycle lanes separated by dashed lines. In some places, footways would need to be narrowed to create space. 

Again, there are two sub-options at the eastern end, one involving the removal of around 22 parking spaces to provide cycle lanes and one retaining parking. This is the most expensive option, estimated at between £201,000 and £1 million.

In addition to road layout changes, the consultation asks for views on potential new pedestrian crossings. 

These include a pedestrian island on Haldon View Terrace and zebra crossings on Bovemoors Lane south of Church Street and south of Carlile Road.

All options would retain emergency vehicle access.

Dryden Road forms an important link between residential areas in Wonford and major employment and healthcare sites, including the Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital. 

As Exeter continues to grow, questions about how traffic is managed alongside safer walking and cycling routes have become increasingly prominent in several parts of the city.

Residents can view the detailed plans and complete the online survey via the council’s consultation website. 

A public drop-in session will be held at Wonford Community Centre on Burnthouse Lane on Wednesday 11 March from 5pm to 8pm. After the consultation closes on 5 April, council officers will compile feedback into a report to inform the next stage of decision-making.