Manadon Interchange: Then and Now

At Kemp every project matters to us, so being asked to return is always a good feeling. It shows our work made a difference, and that our clients trust us to do it again.

In 2020, when the country came to a standstill during the COVID-19 lockdown, our team began working in Plymouth on the Manadon Interchange. Even during the pandemic, it was important to keep vital infrastructure works moving and this project was no exception.

This junction, where the A38 Devon Expressway meets the A386 Tavistock Road, hosts thousands of vehicles every day and connects key parts of the local area, including regular commuters, residential areas, and critical services like Derriford Hospital and the Dockyard.

Kemp was brought in to deliver a full topographical and utility survey of the site to support early improvement plans. We provided rolling road closures, coordinated night-time traffic management to avoid disruption, and supervised vegetation clearance where necessary, and used mobile mapping GPR and laser scanning alongside more traditional surveying techniques to gather accurate above and below ground data. Our Survey Manager, Nigel, carefully programmed every stage of this 5-month survey, ensuring smooth delivery in complex working conditions. Leading the Seeka utility team was Andy Morton, who kept things running efficiently on the ground despite the pressures of lockdown.

It was a time of uncertainty, but our team rose to the challenge. The data we provided in 2020 laid essential groundwork for the future of the junction.

Back on Site in 2025

Today five years on, Kemp is once again playing a key role on the improvement of the Manadon Interchange. Thanks to £13.3 million in development funding from the Department for Transport, the project has moved into its detailed design phase, with full construction expected to begin around 2028.

The new plans aren’t just a small upgrade. The plans include a complete rethink of the junction to improve safety, reduce congestion, and prepare the network for the city’s future growth. As Plymouth moves forward with plans to build over 29,000 new homes and create more than 13,000 skilled jobs, improving the roads that serve these developments has become a top priority.

Kemp has been commissioned to carry out a fresh topographical and utility survey, bringing updated data to inform the next stage of design. We’re producing both 2D and

3D CAD models, tailored to support highways and infrastructure planning. Ben Rice, who worked on the 2020 survey, is now leading the topographical team for this phase.

Nigel, our Survey Manager, shared his thoughts on returning to the site:

“It’s great to be back at Manadon and see how our early work is shaping real progress. A lot has changed since 2020, but the need for accurate, reliable data is still at the heart of every decision being made. We’re proud to provide that, and even prouder to be trusted with it again.”

Alongside the main survey, our team are also working on nearby residential projects, which support the area’s growth.

It’s great to see how our original survey work is helping to shape the next phase of improvements for Plymouth, and we’re pleased to continue contributing to a project that means so much to the city.