Road users are being advised by the county council that the southbound exit slip road of Junction 29 of the M5 will be closed during October half term due to the works.

The closure will be in place from 8pm on Friday October 21 until 6am on Monday October 31 to enable construction work to be carried out safely.

The work will involve earthworks, drainage, and construction of gantry bases, carriageway widening and surfacing.

A diversion route will be signed using Junction 30.

Devon County Council said an advisory 50mph speed limit will be in place on the M5 between Junctions 29 and 30.

Signs advising of the slip road closure will be placed at Junction 28 for M5 southbound traffic.

At peak times, the traffic signals at Junction 30 Sandygate will be adjusted to give greater priority to the southbound exit slip road, in order to minimise disruption as much as possible.

Further weekend closures may be needed during November.

The council said details would be given nearer the time.

The Junction 29 improvement scheme started in May this year.

Once complete, the link road will connect to the A30 trunk road via a new signal junction.

It will replace the current Blackhorse interchange while providing a right-turn facility from the A30 eastbound to the M5 southbound. Access to the new Exeter Science Park will also be available for people travelling westbound on the A30.

A Devon County Council spokeswoman said: “The northbound M5 exit slip will be widened and realigned as it approaches the A30, to form a T junction, which will also be traffic signal controlled.

“This realignment removes the existing eastbound four lane start, which is just beyond the M5 bridge.

“A new combined footpath and cycleway route will also form part of the works, together with bus lanes on the A30 in both directions.

“The scheme, which is funded by the Department for Transport, will open up access to the Exeter and East Devon Growth Point and is one of the many projects being delivered as a result of the public and private sector in Devon.”